ABC

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POV: Bible

"Anna? Brianna? Joanna? Or something like that?" Mio asked, looking over at Bible with a raised brow.

"It was Savanna," Bible muttered, shooting him a glare.

"Oh right," Mio replied, completely unfazed.

"She said she was on the pill," Bible added, biting his bottom lip, eyes flicking nervously to the little boy on the couch. "She told me."

"Never believe them when they say that!" Bas snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration.

"I—okay! I was reckless, I admit it!" Bible shot back. "But she had blond hair! And this kid looks nothing like her!"

He pointed dramatically at the child, who was now calmly trying to balance a throw pillow on his head.

"Maybe your genes just bulldozed hers," JJay said with a shrug. "Could be a full Sumettikul takeover."

Bas crouched slightly, trying to soften his voice like he was some sort of toddler whisperer. "Hey little champ, what's your mom's name?"

The boy blinked at him, unfazed. "Ummm... Mommy."

"Yeah, but what's her real name?"

The boy tilted his head, the pillow still wobbling on top like a tiny crown. "...Mommy?"

"Stop it," Mio cut in, hands on his hips. "You're overwhelming him."

Everyone turned to him. "He is a kid who just wants chicken nuggets."

The boy nodded slowly, like he understood exactly what was going on.

"And fries," he added, totally deadpan.

"And what's your name?" Bible asked gently, crouching a little so he was eye level with the boy.

The kid scrunched up his nose, his lips trembling. "I miss Mommy~~" he whimpered, eyes going glassy with tears.

"Oh no—hey, little guy, it's okay," Bible said quickly, patting his small hands. "We're just trying to find her, alright? We'll help you get back to her, promise."

The boy sniffled, still pouty.

"Wanna eat some nuggets?" Bible offered, trying a weak smile.

The boy gave one final sniff, then nodded, wiping his nose on his sleeve as he stood up and grabbed Bible's hand without hesitation.

Bible blinked down at their joined hands in quiet disbelief as the two of them walked off to the kitchen together.

"Perfect," Bas muttered from the living room, watching them go.

He turned to Mio and JJay, arms crossed. "Look at that. It suits him way more than me. Besides, Job would kill me. He doesn't want kids. Like—strictly no kids."

JJay chuckled. "And yet here we are."

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"You look like a freshly baked mom with that pregnancy glow," Mio said, leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching Bible fry nuggets like it was his full-time job.

Bible glanced over. "Shut up."

"I'm just saying," Mio shrugged. "The apron suits you. Maybe throw in a baby carrier and some soft jazz in the background."

"I will throw this oil at you."

"Domestic life changes a man," Mio sighed dramatically. "Next thing you know, you'll be meal-prepping and comparing stroller brands."

Bible turned the nuggets a little too aggressively. "I swear to God, Mio."

Behind them, the little boy sat at the table, kicking his legs and humming to himself, completely content like he hadn't turned everyone's life upside down in less than an hour.

"So when you were with Tanja, you know, the one with the butterfly tattoo on her back, didn't she kinda have his eyes?" Mio mused, still fixated on cracking the mystery of the kid's mom.

Bible paused mid-nugget flip and pointed the spatula at him. "First of all, her name was Anja. And no. It couldn't be her."

"Why not?" Mio asked, arms folded.

"I pulled out before," Bible said bluntly.

Mio's face twisted. "You do realize that doesn't guarantee anything, right? Stuff still spills out without warning, genius."

"Yeah, but I saw her again like two months later," Bible said, flipping a nugget with emphasis. "She was smoking and drinking like she was at a frat party. So no. Not pregnant."

"But you hooked up again after those two months," Mio pointed out, raising an eyebrow.

Bible turned slowly. "How do you remember my hookup history better than I do? That's terrifying."

"It was entertaining," Mio said with a smirk. "Watching your list unfold like the credits of an action movie. Endless."

Bible scoffed and returned to the pan. "Whatever. That's all ancient history. Jes doesn't need to know about any of that. I'm pure now. Like a flower."

Mio nearly choked. "Wait—you didn't tell Jes?"

Bas entered right on cue, holding a water bottle and rolling his eyes. "Of course he didn't tell him. If he did, Jes would think he was a professional."

Bible spun around, spatula in hand. "You don't get to say anything when you were the hoest hoe in Japan! Railing guys left and right, wait, scratch that, getting railed by them."

Bas didn't even blink. "And? At least I used protection."

JJay walked in just then, holding the juice box the kid had abandoned. "This house has the most disturbing dinner conversations I've ever heard."

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After the nuggets were devoured and multiple failed attempts were made to casually interrogate the child ("What does your mommy call herself when she's mad?" didn't work), everyone ended up sprawled around the living room again, mentally exhausted and getting nowhere.

Bas finally returned from a call, phone still in hand. "Alright. I called my doctor. We can go tomorrow."

Everyone perked up.

"But the results take two weeks," Bas added, flopping into a chair and groaning. "Why do these things always take that long? Like... hello? The problem is now."

"Great," Bible muttered.

"Oh, and he can't stay at my place," Bas added, nodding toward the kid now making a pillow fort on the rug.

Bible blinked. "What?"

Bas stared right back at him.

Bible stared harder.

"Yo, guys," Mio chimed in. "He can't sleep on the street."

"Exactly. Take him, Bible," Bas said, already emotionally checked out. "He likes you. You're his favorite. Congrats."

Bible looked at him like he'd just been told he was pregnant. "And what, Bas, do I tell Jes? Like, 'Hey babe, this is my three-year-old friend, he's crashing at our place for two weeks, don't ask questions'?"

"He'll ask questions," JJay added helpfully.

"No shit!" Bible snapped. "He's Jes! He'll ask five questions in under ten seconds!"

"Then tell him the truth?" JJay offered with a shrug.

Bible's face drained of color.

"Forget it," he muttered. "We finally have peace. Like, actual peace. I've been good! No drama, no scandals. And now this? I show up with a maybe-baby and he's gonna think I'm a total disaster. Or worse... he'll believe I'm the father."

He sank back on the couch, face pale. "I don't even wanna imagine the look on his face."

From under the pillow fort, the little boy peeked out and mumbled: "Can I bring my fort to your house?"

"Little champ," Bible said gently, crouching down to the pillow fort. "Would it be okay if you take your fort to their house?"He pointed straight at JJay and Mio.

Both of them froze.

JJay slowly turned to Mio.Mio pointed at himself. "Ours? You mean... our place?" "It's not a kid-friendly environment!" Mio said, already panicking.

"Yeah, Bible, that's a terrible idea," JJay added, shaking his head. "We have stairs. And swords. And an open bar!"

Bible just stared at them. Then he looked at the little boy, who was now watching with big, round eyes full of innocent sparkle, and an uncanny resemblance.

Bible's lips curved into a pout, eyes wide. "Please, uncles?" he said sweetly, sugary enough to give a cavity.

Mio groaned. "No. Don't do the face. Stop doing the face..."

Bas leaned casually against the wall, sipping water. "You might as well prepare yourselves. You're uncles now."

Mio looked like he aged five years.JJay was already calculating child-proofing costs in his head.And the little boy? He stood up and grabbed his pillow fort with determination.

"I like uncles," he said proudly.

"Great," JJay huffed, defeated. "Fine. He can stay for this night. But tomorrow, we talk again. Like, seriously."

He sighed, taking the little boy's hand and leading him toward the door.

Just as they stepped onto the doorstep, JJay turned to the kid with a smirk. "Go on. Say goodbye to your daddies."

Bible and Bas both shot him a look of pure horror.

But it was too late.

The boy let go of JJay's hand and ran right back, tiny feet pattering across the floor. He threw his arms around Bas and Bible in one go, giving them each a big, dramatic hug, and two very wet smooches on the cheek.

"Goodbye, dadda~" he sang sweetly.

Bas froze. Bible looked like he stopped breathing.

As the boy bounced back to JJay, humming to himself, the two men just stood there in stunned silence.

Bas blinked.Bible blinked.

Finally, Bible exhaled. "We are so screwed."

(⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)

POV: Jes

When Jes returned home, the house was quiet.

He paused in the entryway, frowning down at his phone, wondering if he'd missed a message. A text from Bible, maybe. Something like "Out with the guys, don't wait up." But there was nothing.

"Bible?" he called out, voice echoing slightly through the empty space.

The only answer was a soft meow from their cat, circling his legs with a familiar mix of hunger and boredom.

Jes's frown deepened.

Usually, Bible was already home when he got back. Cooking something half-chaotic in the kitchen, music playing, lights on. There was always movement, laughter, life.

But now, dead quiet.

Jes tried not to overthink it. He tried. But the silence gave him flashbacks he didn't want to entertain. His body tensed involuntarily, instincts sharpening like a blade.

He moved through the house, checking each room. The bathroom light was off. The bedroom untouched.

He headed for the garage.

The motorbike was gone.

Jes's chest tightened. A flicker of worry turned into a flame. He quickly tapped into his phone and called Bible.

No answer.

Again.

No answer.

"Bible..." Jes muttered under his breath, now more frustrated than anxious. They talked about this. Strict rules. Always tell the other where you're going. No exceptions.

He tried to brush it off. Maybe Bible just forgot. Maybe he was out with the guys, joking around somewhere. But that didn't line up either.

Bible had changed recently. Calmer. Quieter. No wild nights during the week. He'd even started to enjoy staying in, cooking, cuddling, watching dumb reality shows until they both fell asleep on the couch. Jes liked this version of him. The homebody Bible. The mine Bible.

Still, he was fine with Bible seeing his friends. Really, he was. He wasn't possessive, not really.

But right now?

Right now he just wanted to know where the hell Bible was, and why his gut was screaming that something was off.

Jes sank down onto the couch, exhaling through his nose. One hand on his phone, the other rubbing at the back of his neck.

First, he called Mio.

No answer.

Then JJay.

Nothing.

He frowned and tried Bas.

Still no answer.

What the hell is going on?

Alright, last resort. He scrolled and tapped Job's name.

After two rings, Job picked up. "Hey," he answered, calm as always.

"Hey," Jes said, his voice noticeably dry.

"Did I forget to send an email or something? Why are you calling?" Job asked, only half-joking.

"No, I just..." Jes hesitated, then cut to the point. "Are you home?"

"Just parked. Why?"

Jes paused, then asked directly, "Is Bible with Bas?"

There was a brief pause on Job's end.

"I'm literally in front of Bas's apartment," he said. "Want me to check? Is everything okay with you two?"

"No—I mean, yes. Everything's fine," Jes said, a little too fast. "He's just not answering his phone. And he's not home. That's all."

"Got it. I'll check and let you know. Maybe he's just hanging out and forgot to charge his phone."

"Maybe..." Jes mumbled.

"Alright, I'll text or call once I've asked Bas. Talk soon."Click.

Jes stared at the phone for a moment, jaw tight.Something wasn't right. And no one was picking up.

After what felt like forever, Jes suddenly heard the unmistakable rumble of the garage door and the deep purr of an engine.

He jumped up from the couch, heart racing, and walked fast toward the garage. The second he opened the door, there he was. Bible, parking his motorbike, pulling off his helmet with that casual shake of his hair.

"Bible!" Jes called out, his voice half relief, half scolding.

He strode over and wrapped his arms around him tightly, nearly knocking Bible off balance while he was still straddling the bike.

"Ugh!" Bible grunted, gripping Jes instinctively. "What the hell..."

"Why didn't you pick up your phone?" Jes asked, breath slightly shaky, his arms still holding on.

"I was driving," Bible replied, blinking, a little stunned by the welcome-home tackle.

Jes pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. "You didn't tell me you were going out." Bible's eyes flicked left. Then right. Jes narrowed his gaze.

"Well..." Bible muttered, clearly scrambling. "I was with JJay and Mio. I just... forgot to tell you."

He bit his lip, looking up at Jes like a puppy who'd peed on the carpet.

"Sorry."

Jes stared at him for a moment, trying to decide whether to be mad or just grateful he was home in one piece.

"Forget next time and I'm installing a tracker in your helmet," he muttered.

"I won't forget," Bible said with a small smile, and in that moment, the world tilted back into place.

Jes looked at him, hair tousled from the helmet, still straddling the motorbike in that damn leather jacket, and forgot exactly why he was mad. Because, honestly, Bible looked like the cover of a biker magazine that would ruin lives on sight.

Bible leaned in to give him a quick kiss.

But Jes wasn't having just a peck.

He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in fully, covering his mouth in a deep, hungry kiss that swallowed any protest. His lips moved over Bible's like he'd missed him for years, not hours. Bible tried to breathe, tried to pause, but Jes didn't let up. His tongue slipped between his lips, sweeping in, curling over Bible's, demanding him.

A soft moan escaped Bible's throat, echoing through the dim garage, bouncing off concrete.

Jes finally pulled back, eyes smoldering with a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He hooked his hands around Bible's waist, lifting his leg off the bike and stepping between his thighs. With one fluid motion, he pressed against him, his arousal obvious, hard and heavy, grinding against Bible's.

"You're always horny," Bible muttered, breath still unsteady. "Like, is just cuddling even in your damn alphabet? Why does everything end with you trying to sleep with me?"

Jes grinned wider. "Cuddling is the beginning. I just believe in committing to the full alphabet."

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POV: AuthorABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ