Ethan yelled, "You can't keep doing this to me. I've done nothing wrong. I'm the best employee you've ever had."
Before another word could be uttered, Koa ran up to his friend and wrapped his arms around him. He whispered softly, "It's okay, Ethan. I'm here now."
It was as if someone had turned a switch off. Ethan slumped against Koa and sobbed, his emotions pouring out in an instant. Koa had positioned himself to turn Ethan when he wrapped his arms around him, which meant Koa could see the other man's face, could see the anguish in it and the confusion. He didn't know how badly he had hurt Ethan, didn't understand that what he'd done was more than just being a tough boss. He had no clue that Ethan was Little and that his heart was sensitive.
Koa felt a hand pressed to the middle of his back. He knew instantly it was Manny. He was thankful his Daddy was there, because no matter what their relationship was, he needed someone strong enough to step in and help get Ethan out of the situation.
Manny's voice was solid when he spoke. "Ash, interesting to see you here."
Ash's expression flickered with surprise before he smoothed it over. Koa wondered what that meant.
The other man spoke this time without the volume raised. "You as well, Manny. What are you doing here?"
Manny's hand stroked up and down Koa's back, comforting him as Koa comforted his friend. "I'm here with my boy. We were delivering food to Ethan since he'd been called in while we were all together. Koa was worried Ethan wouldn't remember to eat, so our friend Jacob put together something."
While everything Manny said was true, Koa could see how he was leaving out the more important parts — the parts where they'd been at a kink club, playing, age regressing. That Jacob was the chef at said club and had a vested interest in Ethan. Still, it was as if the air in the room shifted.
Manny's voice was even when he spoke next. "Ash and I used to run in the same circles. There was a club we both called home for a while." A pause. "Before things fell apart there."
There was meaning in the way he said it. But Koa had spent enough time around Daddies to know the difference between a man being polite and a man choosing his words very carefully. Manny was doing the latter.
Ash's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I didn't know you'd found somewhere new."
"Takes time." Manny's eyes drifted briefly to Ethan, then back. "Glad I did. They’re a good group."
The implication settled over the room like a soft weight. That whatever had gone wrong at that old place, Manny had come out the other side of it better. Whether Ash could say the same was a question left unanswered.
It also made Koa realize the kink club secrets weren’t all that secret now. Ash had to know Ethan attended too. The new knowledge would change things between them.
Ethan's sobs stopped and he pulled back to look at Manny when no one else spoke. His face was still scrunched, the anguish still present, but it was lighter somehow. Like the release was enough to help in some way.
"Jacob made me this?" Ethan asked.
Koa smiled. "He was upset that you had to go," he said carefully, "so he stopped everything to make you soup."
Manny held up the bag, shaking it a little so it made a sloshing noise.
Ethan covered his mouth. His complexion didn't lend itself to a blush, what with the deep brown tone of his skin, but the twinkle in his eye and the way Koa could feel his body relax said loads. Ethan liked that Jacob wanted to take care of him. He liked attention that was positive. It was very much the opposite of his boss — Ash, as Manny had called him — which made Koa think:how did Manny know Ethan's boss? How were they connected?
Manny had not been mean or harsh in any way since they met earlier that night. If anything, he was the complete opposite of Ash, and it was kind of surprising for Koa to know that their world was this small and overlapping.
Ash cleared his throat, drawing everyone's gaze. "You haven't eaten, Ethan?" he said.
Ethan shook his head. "When would I have eaten? I hadn't been gone long when you called me."
The words were an accusation, strong enough, in fact, to make Ash wince. A change came over the other man’s expression then. Koa thought it was remorse. Or as close to it as possible.
"You should go home," he said. "Eat, sleep. Don't come in tomorrow."
Ethan's eyes went wide. "Are you firing me?" he stuttered out.
Koa squeezed his friend, hoping that wasn't the case. He knew that Ethan did enjoy parts of his job, but it was also that Ethan needed the insurance. It helped cover all of his medical needs, and then some.
Ash shook his head once. "Not at all. You're right. You are the best employee that I have, and I have, unfortunately, taken you for granted. Take tomorrow off. I'll see you the day after."
His words were a dismissal, meant to send them on their way. Koa turned Ethan towards the door, pushing him out while Manny whispered something to the other man. It sounded a lot like, "You fucking idiot."
Koa would have to try to remember to ask his Daddy later. He had a feeling that there was more to Ethan's boss than there seemed at first glance. That maybe his Daddy knew something.
