I'd pulled my pants back on after leaving the others alone to enjoy themselves. As I reached the door, I opened it hesitantly, noticing quite a bit of flash outside. A few reporters were roaming the sidewalk while the food deliverer was standing by the door.
"Sorry, mate," he said, holding out the food. "Was a bit of a problem getting here with them wandering the street and all."
"I see they're kind of blocking up the area," I replied as I took the food. "Any reason why?"
"Something about a young man in one of the houses, wanting to reinterview him or something," he shrugged. "Night, mate."
"Yeah, night," I muttered, handing him a generous tip for having to deal with this and shutting the door.
I brought the food to the kitchen and set out some plates. The others slowly made their way downstairs. Andrew was carrying Aidan close to his chest. I raised an eyebrow at the interaction and looked at Lewis. Lewis shrugged.
"A good influence," he said.
"I still want to be really rough with him," Andrew muttered. "It's just seeing him like that and the words he was using made me... it flipped the switch."
They were all mostly dressed. Aidan and Lewis were still shirtless, but otherwise presentable. They each took a seat, though Aidan stayed on Andrew's lap.
"Do you want me to stay here while we eat?" Aidan asked carefully.
"...Yes," Andrew answered before turning to me. "If that's okay."
"Of course," I nodded. "I'm going to be jealous regardless. But if you're having a drop and need Aidan, that's perfectly okay."
Andrew kept one arm around Aidan as he helped Aidan with his food. Lewis and Jesse were talking about the flashing outside. I breathed in deeply and looked over at Aidan. I might as well explain to him what was happening before he received a shock.
"The reporters are back," I said, irritated by the fact they couldn't let it go. "They apparently want to reinterview you, Aidan. That's the flashing lights."
Aidan looked down at himself then back up at me.
"I can't go out looking like this," he stated. "What the hell do they want?"
Jesse was scrolling through a news feed on his phone when he heard me say it was reporters again. His face dropped, visibly gulping in worry. His eyes flickered between us as we waited expectantly.
"They either assumed Luke was telling the truth or they know I'm here," Jesse explained, reading off one of the articles. "For... For 'sex-related activities' one says. They've brought up some of your friends too, Gabe."
"Who gives a fuck about them?" Lewis shrugged. "They don't need to confirm anything."
"I can't just leave tonight then," Jesse frowned. "If I do, they'll suspect something more."
"I was going to have you come round tomorrow to bring Aidan food," I muttered, rubbing my eyes lightly. "I won't be able to leave work and I didn't want him struggling around all day."
"There's really no way around any of this," Aidan softly said. "But, again, I can't go out like this."
He gestured to his whole being. He still had the collar and ears on. The tail must be tucked into his pants. He was littered with bruises and bandages. Even if he fully covered up and took off the ears, it would seem like an odd choice to be doing an interview in.
"I could go speak on your behalf again," I suggested calmly.
How I was even calm to begin with I'll never know. Andrew was holding Aidan's chin in place to look at his cheek, so he was unable to actually turn around to face me when he answered.
"They won't be happy if you do," Aidan said. "But I won't talk to them. Maybe at least. I'll get overwhelmed, I'll go quiet more than likely. And then what?"
"What would you plan on saying?" Andrew asked quietly as he continued to examine Aidan.
"What are you looking at, Andrew?" I growled.
His eyes flickered to me. "The bruise I left."
"Are you trying to get back to Dom-Space?" Aidan asked innocently.
"...Maybe," Andrew mused. "Do you like me in Sub-space instead?"
"You're less handsy," Aidan giggled. "You called me D-."
"I know what I called you," Andrew scowled. "I don't need a fucking reminder."
"Careful," I warned. "My threat from earlier still stands."
"You wouldn't dare," Andrew growled, looking at me properly this time.
"Watch me," I smirked.
"Or you could both calm down while I think of what should be said to the press outside," Aidan said coolly before rolling his hips downward onto Andrew. "And then maybe we could have a little more fun before you go. Sir, Little One?"
Andrew's cheeks flushed darker than earlier. He shrunk a little in his seat, looking to Lewis for help. Lewis simply bit his lip as he watched Aidan take control. I leaned back in my chair and hummed softly. Jesse was still scrolling through his phone silently.
Aidan tilted his head to look Andrew in the eyes. "Do you feel safe and comfortable in Sub-Space, or would you prefer to be in Dom-Space?"
Andrew sat still as he considered it, he didn't seem sure as to what to do or say.
"...I would like to stay in... Sub-space and... have you enjoy that while we eat and you think because I know I'm calmer like that," Andrew spoke carefully. "But I would like to be in my dominant mindset after..."
"Thank you for telling me that," Aidan finished.
His hands came up, lightly grazing against Andrew's cheeks. He hummed in thought, helping Andrew stay in Sub-Space while he considered what the reporters should know. It was a lot to consider.
"They're already assuming that Aidan's been abused and is practically being held captive," Jesse said as Lewis leaned over to look at his phone.
"Apparently, they're expecting marks," Lewis stated. "One reporter is saying that you're just as bad as Jesse, Gabe."
"Oh?" I laughed. "Who?"
"Some woman," Lewis shrugged, scrolling to find the name.
"...Lillianna?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, that's the name," Jesse nodded. "O'Sullivan."
"She is not a nice person..." I growled. "We were interviewed by her a while back."
"I remember her," Lewis chuckled. "She did a BDSM column not that long ago. Or at least her publisher did."
"You get asked about it?" Jesse asked, groaning once again at one of the articles. "The fuck are some of these people on?"
"I did get asked about it," Lewis said as he leaned back over. "What's up?"
Jesse turned the phone to Lewis whose face started changing into confusion. I turned to look at Aidan and Andrew, but their seat was empty. I don't know how long they'd been gone but I swallowed heavily.
"Where did Aidan and Andrew go?" I asked quickly.
Lewis and Jesse looked up, twisting their bodies to look around the room. I heard the front door open, and we all went wide-eyed. Quickly standing up, we kind of toppled over each other to look down the hallway.
"Jesse, bring up like a Livestream or something?" Lewis requested.
"Ah, yeah, wait, sure," he said as he fumbled with his phone, bringing up the first one he could see.
His screen showed the front door of my house. Aidan was standing unsteadily out the front in a long sleeve shirt now. Andrew was standing behind him, clearly attempting to hold him upright without it looking wrong. Andrew was also fully clothed at least.
The Puppy ears and collar had been removed, but there was something else around Aidan's neck instead to cover him up. We watched as the camera moved closer to him, several reporters coming forward to surround them.
"As long as you don't overwhelm him," Andrew had started saying. "He'll talk to you."
"We have questions, Aidan, please talk to us!" one reporter yelled.
"Is it true you've been seeing Jesse?" another called from the right.
Lewis and I both looked toward the door for a moment then back down at the screen. I could see on Aidan's face just how anxious and overwhelmed he was getting. Lewis stopped me from heading to the door.
"We can't just let them see all of us, especially not with how unsteady he looks," Lewis warned. "If they think he's being hurt, it could be bad for all of us, especially him."
"Who's this man with you?" Lillianna stepped forward.
"This is a... a friend," Aidan stuttered. "Andrew... he's going... going to help me stay calm..."
"Will you please answer us?" another begged, holding out a mic far too close than I liked.
"I will repeat," Andrew said calmly. "As long as you don't overwhelm my friend, he will answer you."
Aidan gulped nervously, pointing to one of the reporters.
"Have you been seeing Jesse?" he asked.
"I-... I've seen him... him a few times..." Aidan said loudly, though clearly not confidently. "He drops by... by work for Gabe and... and has spent time here."
"For no other reason?" Lillianna asked sceptically.
"He's been trying to... to prove he's... he's changed too," Aidan continued. "Be a better person and... and what we do or say stays... stays between us..."
"Are you being hurt?" someone asked from the front.
"No," Aidan said, his eyebrows furrowed together. "Why? Why would you... you think that?"
"Because of who your boyfriend is," Lillianna smirked. "I think it's become common knowledge who you spend your time with. Are you stuttering because you're scared?"
"I'm only... stuttering because I... I'm anxious. There's... microphones and cam... cameras in my face." Aidan said and then asked. "And you think... my boyfriend is... is cause for alarm?"
"He might be," she provoked.
We all noticed Andrew's grip got tighter on Aidan. He had a calm demeanour, but something about the tightness of his jaw said otherwise. I think we were all just hoping that he didn't speak out of turn. Didn't cause any more issues.
"We've had a source tell us that Jesse's been over for sexual activities too," a man stated gruffly.
"My personal life is mine, who... who I choose to... to spend it with," Aidan breathed in deeply to control himself. "Is up... up to me."
"Have you forgiven him then?"
"He is proving to be a... a kinder soul," Aidan softly replied. "I'm giving him... a chance. I'm sorry, I need... need to... leave..."
Andrew gripped Aidan, holding him up more to help him inside. People were still yelling, trying to ask him questions.
Andrew helped Aidan move through the door and he slammed it shut. We all looked up to see Aidan fall onto his knees. Andrew cursed under his breath. I could hear people calling for either Aidan or myself to come out and finish the 'damn interviews'. We rushed forward, surrounding Aidan. Aidan groaned softly, looking up at all of us. He was wincing in pain, despite the smile on his face.
"You know, this would be the start of a great... great porno," he joked. "If the reason for me being down here wasn't because I don't have the strength."
I covered my mouth to stifle laughter while the others just burst out laughing. Andrew bent his legs, setting his hands under Aidan's arms and lifted him up into his own arms.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" I asked gently.
"Yeah, I'm okay," he nodded. "Did Andrew want to have a little more fun before he goes?"
"If that's okay with you both," Andrew said, looking at me now. "And I need to see under the bandages. You said they needed to be changed thirty minutes ago."
"Yeah, yeah," I shook my head. "I'm down for you both to stick around for a bit longer. And I'll change them now while we're thinking of it."