Zeke wasn't really surprised when Simon refused to stay in his office while he worked. Instead, he donned an apron and disappeared into the kitchen.
The entire morning was a whirlwind of food, pasties and people, until after the lunch rush, Zeke all but dragged Simon into his office and made him take a break.
"But…" Simon protested, his face flushed from the heat in the kitchen.
"You are not one of my staff." Zeke cut him off. "I don't expect you to work. So, take a break."
"Are you taking a break?" Simon asked, scowling, allowing Zeke to walk him to the office.
"I own the place." Zeke replied. "I can do whatever I want. And, yes. I'm taking a break."
Simon deflated at that.
"It's just that…It's been a while since I did something like this." Simon said; his mood improving. "I really should find a job. Like soon. I miss doing stuff."
"I agree." Zeke said. "But you still need to take it easy. There's no rush. I like taking care of you."
"I'm fine." Simon said, frowning slightly. "I'm not a baby. And I can't keep staying with you for free."
"Never said you were." Zeke said. "And you know I don't mind. I said I'd take care of everything. And I mean it."
"But…"
"Let it go, Simon." Zeke laughed. "I'll go get you something to eat."
Zeke laughed at Simon's expression as he left the office. He saw his brother's boyfriend walk into the restaurant looking pissed.
"What did my brother do this time?" Zeke asked as Alex sat on the barstool.
"Huh? What?" Alex narrowed his eyes at him, then he shook his head, his features smoothening out. "Nothing. It's not Zion. Contrary to what you think, your brother is a sweetheart. And I love him."
Zeke rolled his eyes. "OK. So what's wrong? You looked like someone peed in your cereal."
Alex gave him a disgusted look. "How can…?" he shook his head. "No, I'm not doing this." He sighed. "My assistant quit. You have no idea the kind of nightmare I have had this morning. I need a drink."
"Sasha quit?" Zeke asked. "Why?"
"She didn't say." Alex said, rubbing at his cheeks hard. "She just sent a text this morning. Where is that drink?"
"It's barely 2pm." Zeke said.
"So?" Alex asked; glaring at him. ""It's 11pm somewhere."
Zeke shook his head, grinning. "The usual?"
"How is your little boyfriend?" Alex asked. "Zion says you don't have time for him anymore."
Zeke rolled his eyes. "Simon is not my boyfriend. And he's fine. Zion's just jealous." He was mixing a fruity cocktail.
"Yes he is." Alex said, smirking. "He knew you first. A little more vodka. Thanks, darling."
"Zion's just being a baby." Zeke said, handing Alex his drink.
"Zeke, I'm bored. Your office is..." Simon said, joining them.He stopped when he saw Alex and smiled nervously. "H-Hi." Zeke smiled fondly as Simon stood behind him and gripped his shirt for a second before letting go.
"Finally." Alex grinned. "He let you come out to play. I'm Alex Tran."
"S-Simon." Simon's voice was shaky. "Simon Holtz."
"I have heard so much about you." Alex said, leaning forward over the counter. "You look better than I expected. Zeke didn't tell me you were this cute."
Simon just blushed. "Uh, thank you?"
"Leave him alone, Alex." Zeke said.
"I'm a customer." Alex said with fake indignation.
"No, you're my brother's annoying boyfriend." Zeke said dryly.
"And still a paying customer."
Simon laughed. "It's OK, Zeke. You don't need to protect me. I think I'll be fine."
"See, Zeke?" Alex said. "He's fine…now shoo. I'll keep him company."
Zeke shook his head, but when he saw Simon smile and talk to Alex, he said "I'll bring your lunch over, OK?" Simon nodded and walked around the counter to sit next to Alex.
*
"So I got a job." Simon said excitedly
"How?" Zeke asked. "You didn't leave the restaurant all day."
"Alex." He was practically vibrating, bouncing on his toes
"Of course." Zeke sighed. "As his assistant?" He had mixed feelings about that. Simon working with Alex meant Zeke couldn't watch him.
"Yeah." Simon said, bouncing excitedly as they walked back home. "I'm supposed to be at his place at 9AM tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Zeke frowned. "Isn't that…?" He cut himself off at the expression Simon's face
"What?" Simon scowled at him. "Isn't that what?"
Zeke laughed and his frowned deepened. Zeke laughed harder.
"OK, it's fine." Zeke said, raising his hands in surrender. "It's a great idea."
"You're damn right, it's a great idea." Simon muttered.
"I'm just looking out for you." Zeke said. "I worry, you know?"
"I need to take control of my life." Simon said, still frowning. "I can't keep…"
"If you say 'mooching off', you and I are going to have a problem." Zeke said. Simon punched him. Zeke barely felt it.
"You need to hit harder than that to make it hurt." Zeke teased. Simon rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm a weakling." Simon muttered. "I know that. No need to rub it in."
Zeke sighed. "Hey, You didn't I didn't mean it like that. I don't think you are a weakling."
Simon didn't say anything, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Simon…you hear me?" Zeke asked, bumping his shoulder against him. "You aren't a weakling."
"OK." Simon said in a dull tone. "If I could defend myself…" He stopped and looked at Zeke. "You said you fight, right? Can you teach me?" he asked.
Zeke frowned. "Teach you?"
"Yeah!" Simon suddenly became animated. "Yes! So you won't be so worried when I'm not with you. And if-if Jon shows up, I can kick his ass."
It sounded like a good idea but…Zeke saw the hope in Simon's face as he talked about fighting and he didn't have the heart to tell him that it would take more than a few sessions to be able to kick his ex's ass.
"Who knew you were such a brute?" Zeke asked, laughing.
"So you'll do it?" Simon asked.
"Yeah." Zeke replied. "I'll do it."
***
It felt good to do something again.
Working with Alex was…weird. Most of the time all Simon did was order lunch, schedule appointments and answered Alex's phone when he was working.
Alex had gotten him a phone so he could get in touch with him after hours.
He was finally busy enough to keep the thoughts of Jon at bay.
Sort of.
But he was getting better. The nightmares had stopped and he wasn't in any pain.
Life was good.
"You must be Alex's new assistant." A smooth voice jolted Simon from his thoughts. Simon looked up to see a very tall man, staring down at him. The man had olive colored skin and hair black and shiny. His eyes were cool and calculating. While he didn't look anything like Jon, Simon's heart was beating painfully.
"Y-Yes. I am." Simon looked at the time. "Mr. Santos? Alex said to go right in."
The man said nothing, just stared at him. Simon resisted the urge to fidget. The guy had this intense look in his eyes that Simon was all too familiar with.
"Mateo, stop intimidating my assistant." Simon sighed in relief when he heard Alex's voice.
"I wasn't." Mateo said, grinning suddenly. And the grin transformed his face. He didn't seem so sinister. "I was just saying hi."
"Of course you were." Alex said dryly. "Leave him alone. He's off limits."
"Now, you know I can't resist a challenge." Mateo said, giving Simon a look, before winking and turning to follow Alex back to his office. Simon shivered.
The look reminded him of Jon.
The first time he met Jon, he had that same intense look that had made Simon's heart beat with excitement and lust. However, Mateo's look just made him sick to his stomach and very scared.
Jon had taken a lot more than his innocence.
"Damn you, Jon." Simon whispered shakily.
***
Simon was a panting sweaty mess two hours into his training session. Zeke laughed.
"Dude, you are so out of shape."
They were in Zeke's empty garage-slash-home gym; where Zeke had decided to train and teach Simon to defend himself.
"You think?" Simon panted sarcastically. "I didn't notice."
"Wow, you are really bitchy too." Zeke taunted good-naturedly. "I'd say you've been spending time with my brother but I know you have not, so that means you aren't all rainbows and kittens."
"Shut up." Simon glared at him. He was on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"Well, come on." Zeke said. "Get up and try again."
"If I didn't need this, I would have told you to fuck yourself." Simon said slowly as he stood up. "This is torture."
Zeke sighed. "You don't have to do thi-." Simon rushed at him quickly and hit him suddenly. He lost his balance and fell back to the ground. He lay on his back stunned; looking up, he grinned at the smug look on Simons face as he straddled his thighs.
"You were saying?" Simon arched an eyebrow; still breathing hard.
"Not bad." Zeke said, smiling. Suddenly he was very aware of Simon's weight on top of him. Suddenly he flipped them over so he was lying on top of Simon. There was a flash of panic in Simon's face before he steeled his features.
Zeke frowned as he looked down at Simon. Did that scare him?
"Z-Zeke?" Simon breathed his name. "Co-Could you…?"
Zeke watched his lips move and remembered the time he kissed him. Back when he had broken him out of Jon's apartment. Then, he had done it to calm him down.
Now?
He wanted to know how he tasted.
He wanted to feel Simon against his body. He wanted to hear him moan his name. Was he loud or silent?
He wanted Simon.
"Ze-." Zeke cut him off by leaning down to press a kiss at the side of his lips. He felt the Simon suck in a breath, felt his hands against his chest.
"Isn't this nice?" Zeke stiffened as he heard his brother's amused voice.
Simon took the opportunity to push Zeke off him. Zeke rolled off him and heard Simon get up and heard his quick footsteps as he left the garage.
"What do you want, Zion?" Zeke asked, still lying on the floor.
"Is it a crime to visit my baby brother?" Zion said; amusement evident in his voice. "I haven't seen you in ages. Although, now I can see why."
"Shut up." Zeke stood up and walked inside; his brother chuckling as he followed behind him.
"I'm also here about the Jon situation…" Zion said, his tone suddenly serious. Zeke went to the fridge to get a bottle of water.
"What about it?" Zeke asked, "Have you found him?"
"Yes and no." Zion said, taking out his phone and typing out a text. "We know he's still in New York. In Brooklyn for that matter. But other than that, he's nowhere to be found. Did he contact you again?"
"Again?" Simon asked. "What do you mean, again?"
Zion looked at Zeke, his eyebrows raised. "You didn't tell him?"
"Tell me what?" Simon asked, his arms folded as he narrowed his eyes at Zeke.
"Oh, this is gonna be good." Zion whispered. Zeke shot him a dark look before looking at Simon.
"Well, Jon called me with your phone." Zeke started. "A few weeks ago."
"My…" Simon's eyes widened. "Oh fuck. I forgot it. How could I have been so…? Oh my god, he must have seen the messages. I didn't delete them all. I'm dead. I'm so dead."
Zeke glared at his brother as Simon started to freak out. Zion wasn't smiling anymore. In fact he looked part guilty, part worried.
"I knew it was too good to be true." Simon said, almost muttering. "He must have been watching me. How could I have forgotten about…"
"OK, that's enough." Zion said loudly, making Simon jump. "Calm down, Simon. He's not going to get to you. Zeke is here. I sure as hell won't let him near my brother and Zeke won't let him near you."
"But what if he hurts your brother?" Simon asked, his expression scared. "Are you willing to risk that?"
"Zeke can take care of himself." Zion said. To Zeke he asked. "Why didn't you tell him?"
"Yeah, Zeke. Why didn't you tell me?" Simon asked. "I mean, he talked about me, didn't he?"
"I told you I was going to protect you." Zeke said. "And I didn't want you to keep worrying about him."
"You should have told me." Simon said. "Maybe…Maybe I would have…"
"Would have what?" Zeke asked, getting annoyed. "Gone back? Talked to him? He's insane…"
Simon threw his hands up and walked away, muttering something in Spanish. Zion laughed. "I like him. He's not scared of you."
"Why should he be scared of me?" Zeke sighed. He had to make it up to Simon. To explain why he did what he did.
And to talk about that almost kiss.
"I'm hungry." Zion said. "Make me something."
"Did your boyfriend kick you out again?" Zeke asked tiredly, going into the kitchen.
"No." Zion said sullenly. "He's busy and doesn't want to be disturbed."
"So he kicked you out?"
"Shut up and make me lunch." Zion said, scowling.
*
Simon didn't come out of his room the whole time Zion was there. Zeke found himself looking at the door to Simon's room so many times, Zion got fed up.
"Just go and talk to him." He snapped. "You are being rude."
"Rude?" Zeke asked indignantly. "How the hell am I being rude?"
"You have not paid any attention to anything I have said today." Zion said. "Just go and talk to him."
Zeke looked at his brother. "Are you OK? You seem…upset."
ZIon sighed. "I'm fine. It's just work…"
"Sorry." Zeke sighed. "I can always talk to him later…"
"Zeke." Zion stood up. "Talk to him. You shouldn't have kept it from him in the first place."
"I know." Zeke said tiredly; rubbing his face. "But I just wanted him to…"
"It's not like he's forgotten that Jon exists." Zion said. "He has the right to know."
"Fine." Zeke ground out. He stood up and started walking to Simon's room. He heard Zion leave and he stood in front of the door, thinking about what he was going to say.
"Simon?" he reached to knock and Simon opened the door.
"You should have told me." Simon said. "He's my problem."
"That's just it." Zeke said. "I don't want you to deal with him alone. Or at all."
"It wasn't your call." Simon said, folding his arms. "He'll hurt you or your family and it would be my fault."
"I-." Zeke stopped. "Is it so wrong for me to want to protect you?"
"I'm not-It's not wrong." Simon conceded. "But you didn't give me a choice. That's almost as bad as Jon." Simon's eyes widened when he realized what he said.
"I'm nothing like him." Zeke said, a small spark of anger in his chest. "I won't hurt you like he did. I am not a bully or a homicidal maniac. I wouldn't do that to you."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry." Simon said. "But you should have told me."
"I know and I'm sorry." Zeke said, still a little ticked off. "But I'd do it again."
"See?" Simon snapped. "You can't protect me forever. And it would kill me if he hurts you. I'd rather he kills me that hurts you."
"I can take care of myself." Zeke snapped. "And I can protect you. Why won't you let me?"
"Because…because…" Simon sighed shakily. "I don't know, OK! I just don't want you hurt. You have done so much for me already and…don't change the subject; you should have told me he contacted you. I can't believe I forgot the phone. How could I have been so stupid? Now he knows I'm with you and he'll be watching you…you don't know what he's capable of. He's a cop, for fucks sake."
"Calm down, Simon." Zeke said watching Simon freak out. "I promise you, he won't hurt me and I swear I won't let him get to you."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Simon murmured. "Maybe I should just leave…"
"Like hell…" Zeke said. "You are staying here until he's caught and then we'll talk about you leaving."
Zeke didn't want him to leave. He liked having Simon around. With him around, everything was…better somehow. Since Simon had called him that first time, Zeke had felt something for Simon. First he was just worried about the kid but after he had seen him, been around him; the thought of never seeing him made his heart ache.
Life wouldn't be the same if Simon left.
"Simon…please." Zeke said softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I-I thought it would be better if you didn't have that hanging over your head." He moved closer to Simon, putting his hands on Simon's shoulders
"He's always there, Zeke." Simon said softly. "I always feel him. I was with him for four years, lived with him for three years. You don't just forget something like that. I know you-you want the best for me, but I…damn it, Zeke."
Zeke found himself hugging Simon tightly. "I'm sorry. I should have told you."
"What did he say?" Simon's voice was muffled.
Zeke paused. "He, uh, said he found the phone and something about coming for you. I hung up."
Simon made a sound that was part chuckle and part sob. "You hung up. We're dead."
"Nah." Zeke hugged him tighter. "He's a bully. He can't do anything to me. And I will kill him if he so much as breathes on you wrong."
"Why?" Simon asked, pulling away. "Why me? Why all this?"
"Why not?" Zeke asked. "You are important to me, Simon. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you are safe."
***
Simon found himself staring at Zeke's mismatched eyes. Who would have thought that dialing a random number would change his life? He got Zeke and he got a friend. He got a savior.
He was mad earlier when he found out Zeke kept Jon's phone call from him. In his rational mind, he knew Zeke only wanted to protect him. However, that just made him feel…uneasy. Zeke probably saw him as a weak kid who needed to be protected.
And now, asking him why he was doing all of this. And Zeke's reply…
He remembered the almost kiss in the garage. "Why did you kiss me? Or almost kiss me?"
Zeke blushed and looked away. "I-I wanted to. I'm sorry if I…"
Simon placed his hands on the sides of Zeke's neck and leaned up to kiss him. He felt Zeke stiffen for a split second before the blond wrapped his arms around his waist and crushed him against his chest.
Kissing Jon was rough. He didn't like kissing much, but when he did he was brutal. Kissing Zeke was…different. It was soft and sweet. Simon heard himself moan quietly as he pressed closer to Zeke. The kiss was heady and when a strange tingle started from his fingertips, moving down his arms and causing his heart to beat faster, he knew he had to stop.
Simon pulled away, staring at Zeke as his chest heaved. "Oh my God."
"What?" Zeke's voice was thick. "What's wrong?"
Simon felt his face heat up as he shook his head. "I-I can't believe I did that. I-I never do that…"
Zeke smiled softly and stroked the side of Simon's face. "Are you scared of me?"
Simon shook his head. "No, never. You are probably the only person in the whole world I trust."
Zeke closed his eyes and hugged him again. Pulling back he grinned at Simon. "Wanna do it again?"