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“You’re assuming that she, a human, wants to be in a relationship with the two shifters that she’s currently living with.”

“Yes?” Milo sighed heavily even as Javier looked on, perplexed. “What’s not to like about us?” As per usual, the two of them were polar opposites of each other: Milo, chagrined and rapidly deflating, and Javier, confused and vaguely annoyed by the suggestion that there would be something not to like about Stella just dating the both of them.

“Have you talked to Stella about this?” Milo asked, already knowing the answer. “At all?” When Javier’s bright gaze slid sideways, it was confirmed. He didn’t know exactly how long Javier had been mulling things over, but he most certainly hadn’t talked to the object of his affections about...anything.

“What if she doesn’t want to?” he continued prodding quietly. “What if she’s not interested in us that way?” Javier’s ears laid flat against his head, and he was clearly not convinced that was possible.

“What if she only likes you?” A frown appeared.

“Or just me?” The frown deepened. Obviously, that wouldn’t do. Javier studied him closely, ears perking back up, and Milo began to feel like the focus had suddenly shifted in the wrong direction. That time, he was the one to look away, tail tucking just a little bit closer to his leg. It was enough.

“So you do like her!” Javier announced, annoyed. “You were acting like I was talking out my ass there, as though you’d never had a single thought about Stella as anything other than a roommate. Well, I have eyes, too, and ears—“

Deftly, Milo leaned in over the smaller man and kissed him firmly, warm lips sealing Javier’s complaints away. At least, for the moment.

“What if she doesn’t want to share?” he asked, as though Javier hadn’t gone on a tirade in the middle of their conversation.

”Now who’s changing the subject?” Javier grumbled.

“I’m keeping you focused,” Milo corrected, leaning back again, his work done. Though a light blush stained his cheeks, Javier still looked annoyed, lips twisted into a sullen pout.

“Javier.” After a moment, their eyes met. “We’re asking a lot of her already. What if you try - we try - and something happens? What if it doesn’t work? What then?”

“You think Stella would ask us to leave?”

“No,” Milo admitted. “But it wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t be like it is now. Would you want to stay?” And then what? A lot was left unsaid. They wouldn’t have many options if one or both of them tried to pursue Stella and it didn’t go well. Milo physically couldn’t work full-time or he’d expose himself, and Javier didn’t have the proper paperwork to do so. They’d be out on the street again in weeks.

It was a miracle that they found themself with her in the first place.

It hurt Milo to watch Javier’s shoulders droop as the weight of the potential consequences settled on his shoulders, almost as much as it hurt to think about not trying anything. Ever. Pining for as long as they lived with her, always close enough to touch something that could be wonderful...but just a little too short.

His heart ached, but he ignored it.

“I’m not going to say that you can’t do something,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “I’m just asking you to think about it first.”

———————

I was going to do another comic page, but I just couldn’t bring myself to draw another series of pictures of the two of them sitting down and talking uuuggggghhhh.

But! Because it’s just onen picture, I thought I’d add some color in case anyone wondered what these two looked like in something other than blue! Milo’s eyes are closed, like a gentleman, but they’re really dark brown. Dark enough that it’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the iris and the pupil until the light hits it.

As an aside, Milo doesn’t ask if Javier would leave him if Stella likes just one or the other of them. They’ve been through so much already, that’s not something that he’s concerned about (and it’s not something that I plan on exploring).