Chapter 11 - Unseen Vulnerabilities

Dean's stomach lurched, a sense of dread twisting in his gut. He didn't know what was happening, why the air felt suddenly heavy and tense. Before he could process it, Alex stepped forward and pulled Dean aside, gripping his arm possessively.

"This is my family. Stay away from us," Alex said, his voice steely. Lucas merely smirked, his gaze drifting from Alex to Dean, then landing on Kikki with a gleam of intrigue.

"What's mine, I'll take it. You can't stop me," Lucas said, chuckling as he made his way to the door. He threw one last smug look back before walking out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

Alex's expression was dark, anger simmering just beneath the surface. He didn't say a word, only gathered Kikki and placed him in his bedroom with a few toys, telling him gently to play. Then he returned to the hallway, where Dean was still standing near the closed door, shaken.

As Dean turned around, he found himself face-to-face with Alex, who closed the distance between them in one swift step. Dean's back hit the door as Alex pressed close, his fingers digging into Dean's shoulders.

"Why did you let him in?" Alex's voice was sharp with frustration, his grip firm. "How could you let a stranger in here?"

Dean could feel the tension radiating through Alex's hold, his shoulders stinging under the pressure. He'd never seen Alex this angry, and the intensity of it left him both stunned and at a loss for words. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Alex tightly, hoping to calm him, to somehow anchor him through the storm brewing inside.

Alex stilled, his anger momentarily replaced by shock at Dean's unexpected embrace. He hesitated, and then his shoulders softened, his face slowly lowering until it rested against Dean's shoulder, as though he couldn't hold himself up any longer.

They stood like that, wrapped around each other, Alex's breathing steadying against Dean. When he finally lifted his head, Dean noticed the faint shimmer of unshed tears in Alex's eyes. The sight hit him, softening his own heart, and he instinctively reached up, brushing away the droplets from Alex's cheeks. Their gazes locked, and in that quiet moment, something wordless passed between them.

Without thinking, Alex pulled Dean into another embrace, holding him even closer this time. His voice was softer, almost pleading as he whispered, "Don't ever let a stranger into the house again. Don't let them near Kikki."

Dean nodded, understanding the weight behind Alex's words. They stayed close, sharing the silent promise to protect each other—and Kikki.