s PReed's Pov
After dinner, the house had that cozy, post-meal vibe, Vivienne was humming to herself while Bailey sprawled across the couch and Nathan was half on his phone, half listening to Bailey rant about something no one asked for.
Greg and Nicholas had slipped off to the office a while ago something about a call they needed to make. I tried not to think too hard about it or about the way Nicholas had looked back before he left, like he wanted to say something but didn't.
I was leaning against the arm of the sofa, drink in hand, when the front door creaked open as faint footsteps made their way to the lounge room. Bailey groaned the second he looked up.
"Oh, for fuck's sake. What the hell are you doing here?"
The guy who walked in wasn't what I expected. he wore a ribbed beige cardigan over a simple white tee, black pants, and a smirk that said he knew exactly how good he looked. His hair was slightly tousled, and it fitted him well.
"Nice to see you too, Bailey," he said easily. "Still as dramatic as ever, I see."
Vivienne appeared from the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. "Ethan, sweetheart!" Her face lit up. "You know you're welcome here anytime. Ignore him, he's all bark."
Bailey threw his hands up. "He just shows up unannounced! Who does that?"
Ethan gave a slow shrug, eyes glinting. "Someone worth showing up for."
Nathan didn't even look up from his phone. "You'd still complain if he called first."
"I'm not complaining," Bailey said, obviously complaining. "I'm just saying the air gets smugger every time he walks in."
Ethan grinned, hands sliding into his pockets. "And yet, here you are breathing it in."
Vivienne swatted him gently with the towel. "Don't tease," she said, though her eyes sparkled.
Ethan slipped his hands in his pockets, glancing around. "Where's everyone else? Thought I saw Greg's car outside."
Nathan finally looked up. "Office. Him and Nicholas are talking numbers with Grandpa."
At the mention of him, I straightened a little. I hadn't met the man yet, but I'd heard enough to know the entire estate and half of grey empire practically ran under his watch. The stories painted him as someone who didn't miss much sharp, calculating and highly respected.
Ethan chuckled. "Still working after dinner, huh?"
Vivienne smiled fondly. "You know him. He'd run the estate from the grave if he could."
A voice came from the doorway firm but calm. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Everyone turned as Grandpa stepped in his posture straight and his presence commanding without even trying. His gray hair was neatly trimmed, shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows. He had the kind of quiet authority that made people stand a little taller.
"Evening," he said simply his eyes landing on Ethan. "Didn't know you were dropping by."
"Thought I'd surprise you," Ethan said with a grin.
Grandpa's lips twitched, just slightly. "Mission accomplished. You staying the night?"
"Maybe," Ethan replied. "Depends how long it takes for Bailey to kick me out."
Bailey groaned. "Don't tempt me."
Vivienne shook her head, smiling. "You'll both behave."
Ethan turned when Nathan spoke up. "Oh right. Ethan, this is Reed." Ethan's attention flicked to me, gaze curious.
"The soldier, right?"
"That's me," I said, shaking his offered hand.
"You've heard about me?" He tilted his head, eyes glinting.
"A bit. Depends who's doing the talking." Bailey groaned.
"Here we go again."
Ethan smiled. "Just saying Nicholas has opinions."
The room went quiet for a beat, just long enough for my pulse to kick. I didn't know why the mention of Nicholas's name in his mouth made something in my chest tighten and Nathan snorted.
"Careful, Reed. Ethan used to be obsessed with Nicholas when we were kids."
Ethan groaned. "Don't start."
Vivienne laughed softly. "Oh, that's right! You followed him everywhere."
"I was eight!" Ethan said, defensive but grinning. "It wasn't like that."
Bailey smirked. "Sure, buddy."
Before Ethan could argue, footsteps sounded from the hall. Greg and Nicholas walked in Nicholas still loosening his sleeves, a faint trace of cologne cutting through the air. Greg looked amused, clearly having caught the tail end of the conversation.
"What wasn't like that?" Greg asked.
Bailey smirked. "Ethan's childhood crush."
Nicholas blinked, caught off guard. "On who?"
"You," Nathan said flatly. Ethan groaned, dragging a hand over his face.
"You people are relentless." Nicholas chuckled, voice low and smooth.
"You're blushing."
"I'm not," Ethan said he totally was. Vivienne grinned.
"You were adorable, always wanting to tag along."
Ethan shot her a betrayed look. "Vivienne." Greg laughed.
"Well, at least we know his taste was good."
That earned him a glare from both Ethan and Nicholas. The room broke into laughter again and I smiled along, though something in me stayed wound tight.
Watching Nicholas and Ethan joke comfortably and close in that old-friend kind of way stirred red something uneasy in my chest. I knew it wasn't romantic between them but it still felt like stepping into a place where I didn't quite fit.
When Nicholas's gaze finally flicked to me across the room warmly I looked away first. Greg was still laughing when Vivienne handed out mugs of tea, shaking her head at all of them.
"You'd think you were twelve again."
"We act twelve," Bailey said, plopping down on the couch beside Ethan. "Difference is, now we have better insults."
"Debatable," Ethan muttered, nudging him with his knee.
Greg sank into an armchair beside Nathan, stretching out with ease while Nicholas hovered for a moment, then dropped down on the other end of the couch right beside me. Close enough that our knees brushed when he leaned back. Nona had retired to her and grandpa's bedroom for the night leaving the rest of us.
"So what're we watching?" Nathan asked, the remote in hand.
"Something with demons," Bailey said. "Fitting for this crowd."
Vivienne sighed. "You boys and your nonsense."
Ethan smirked. "Constantine?"
"That works," Nicholas said, reaching forward to grab the popcorn bowl from the table. "Let's summon something cursed."
"Please don't," Grandpa's dry voice came from his armchair in the corner he was reading the paper, half watching, half pretending not to. "The last thing this house needs is more chaos."
Bailey grinned. "You love us though."
"I tolerate you," Grandpa corrected,
The show started, the flicker of light from the TV painting the room in soft golds and shadows. Everyone relaxed nathan scrolling through his phone occasionally, Greg muttering commentary under his breath, Vivienne knitting something in her corner while pretending not to eavesdrop on the banter.
Ethan and Bailey kept trading sarcastic remarks about Constantine's trench coat until Nathan threw a pillow at them.
"Both of you shut up. Some of us are trying to appreciate the art," Nathan deadpanned.
"Art?" Bailey snorted. "He's literally exorcising a demon with holy water and cigarettes."
"Exactly," Nathan said without missing a beat.
Nicholas chuckled beside me, and way too close. I could feel the vibration of it in my chest. His head tipped back slightly, eyes glinting with amusement from the TV's glow.
I tried to focus on the screen and failed numerously. Ethan leaned forward, glancing between us.
"So, Reed. How's it feel being back on land and stuck with this circus?"
"Surprisingly normal," I said. "Didn't expect demons and family therapy in the same night, though."
That got a laugh out of everyone even Grandpa smirked behind his newspaper.
"Welcome to the estate," Greg said. "We come with built-in entertainment."
"Entertainment's one word for it," Nicholas murmured. Bailey gasped dramatically.
"Did the ice prince just make a joke?"
Nicholas shot him a look. "Don't make me regret it."
"Too late," Bailey chirped, and Ethan snickered.
It was chaotic and alive like I'd stumbled into a rhythm that had been playing long before I arrive and honestly I didn't feel like I needed to be anywhere else.
Halfway through the second episode, Vivienne yawned and stood. "Alright, you hooligans, try not to burn the place down. Goodnight."
"Night, Mom," they chorused automatically. Grandpa closed his paper and rose, giving the room one last look.
"Don't stay up too late."
"We won't," Nathan said which was an obvious lie.
Once they left, the house quieted a little, flicker of the TV now the only light. Bailey stretched out, head dropping to Ethan's shoulder mid-yawn. Ethan didn't even react he st shifted slightly to make him more comfortable, a faint smile playing at his lips.
Greg stood, stretching. "I'm grabbing a drink. Anyone want something?"
Nicholas shook his head. "I'm good."
I didn't answer. My focus had drifted back to Nicholas and how the way the blue TV light caught in his hair, the faint tension still hiding beneath his calm. For once, though, he looked at peace.