Part 5: After Hours

Three weeks of Sunday services, and Tivaughn had gotten used to the rhythm - early morning braids with Zaire, quiet drives to church, shared McDonald's after. Each week, Reece's knee would press against his under the table, lingering longer each time. But outside those Sunday mornings, Reece kept his distance, coming in for cuts late at night when the shop was empty, texts staying carefully casual.

Until tonight.

"You closing?" The message came through at 10:45, just as Tivaughn was counting down the register.

"Yeah, why?"

"Need to talk"

Tivaughn's heart picked up speed. "Door's open"

When Reece walked in fifteen minutes later, Tivaughn knew something was off. The tension in his shoulders was back, jaw tight, that smoke smell heavy around him.

"Z good?" Tivaughn asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"He's with my sister." Reece paced the length of the shop, restless energy rolling off him. "Some shit went down today."

Tivaughn leaned against his station, waiting. He'd learned that Reece would talk when he was ready, pushing only made him retreat.

"Had some guys try to move in on my territory," Reece finally said, voice low and hard. "Had to handle it."

"Everyone okay?" Tivaughn asked carefully.

Reece's laugh was sharp. "They'll live." He stopped pacing, turned to face Tivaughn. "That gonna be a problem?"

The question carried weight - more than just about tonight. Tivaughn studied him, noting the split knuckles, the way he was favoring his right side slightly.

"Come here," Tivaughn said softly.

Reece hesitated, that wall trying to slam back up. But something in Tivaughn's expression must have reached him because he moved closer, stopping just inches away.

"Sit," Tivaughn nodded to his chair. When Reece didn't move, he added, "Please."

The please did it. Reece sank into the chair, some of that coiled tension leaving him as Tivaughn's hands landed gentle on his shoulders.

"You're carrying too much," Tivaughn murmured, working at the knots in Reece's shoulders. "Always trying to handle everything alone."

"Got no choice." But Reece's eyes closed, head tipping back slightly as Tivaughn's thumbs found a particularly tight spot. "Got Z to think about."

"Having people in your corner ain't a weakness," Tivaughn said, hands sliding up to Reece's neck, feeling his pulse race under his fingers.

"Yeah?" Reece's eyes opened, meeting Tivaughn's in the mirror. "You trying to be in my corner?"

The question hung between them, loaded with everything they hadn't said. Tivaughn's hands stilled on Reece's shoulders.

"Think I already am," he said quietly.

Reece stood in one fluid motion, turning to face him. They were close enough that Tivaughn could see the flecks of gold in his eyes, smell that mix of smoke and cologne that was uniquely him.

"Could be dangerous," Reece warned, but he stepped closer. "Being in my corner."

"Good thing I ain't scared then."

Something flashed in Reece's eyes - heat or warning or both. His hand came up to Tivaughn's jaw, rough knuckles gentle against his skin. For a moment, they just breathed the same air, balanced on the edge of something they couldn't take back.

Then Reece's phone buzzed - his sister. The moment shattered.

"Z okay?" Tivaughn asked, not stepping back even as Reece checked his phone.

"Yeah, just checking in." Reece's thumb swiped across the screen, but his other hand stayed on Tivaughn's jaw. "I should go."

"Should you?"

Reece's eyes snapped back to his, darkening at whatever he saw in Tivaughn's expression. His grip tightened slightly.

"Don't start something you ain't ready to finish," he warned, voice low.

Tivaughn turned his head, pressed his lips to Reece's split knuckles. "Who says I ain't ready?"

The kiss, when it came, was nothing like Tivaughn had imagined - and he had imagined it, more times than he'd admit. It was brutal and gentle at once, Reece's fingers sliding into his hair, grip tight like he was afraid Tivaughn would disappear if he let go.

Tivaughn gave as good as he got, backing Reece up against the counter, swallowing his soft gasp. He could taste smoke and something sweeter underneath, feel the way Reece yielded to him even as his fingers tightened in Tivaughn's hair.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Reece's carefully maintained walls had crumbled. He looked younger somehow, more vulnerable than Tivaughn had ever seen him.

"Been wanting to do that," Tivaughn admitted, thumb brushing Reece's bottom lip.

"Yeah?" Some of Reece's swagger crept back in, but his voice was still rough. "Since when?"

"Since you walked in here with Z that first time." Tivaughn pressed closer, feeling Reece's breath hitch. "Looking all mean but so gentle with him."

"Ain't gentle with most people," Reece warned, but his hands had settled on Tivaughn's hips, pulling him closer.

"Good thing I ain't most people then."

This kiss was slower, deeper, like they had all the time in the world. Reece's phone buzzed again, ignored this time as Tivaughn's mouth moved to his neck.

"Ti," Reece's voice was barely a whisper. "We should-"

The shop's front door chimed.

They sprang apart as a group of guys walked in, laughing loud until they spotted Reece. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees.

"Shop's closed," Tivaughn said firmly, noting how Reece had shifted slightly in front of him, all that dangerous energy back in his frame.

The guys backed out quick, but the moment was broken. Reece ran a hand over his face, reality crashing back in.

"I should get Z," he said, but he didn't move away from Tivaughn.

"Yeah," Tivaughn agreed, fingers hooking in Reece's belt loops. "You should."

Neither of them moved for a long moment. Finally, Reece pressed one more kiss to Tivaughn's mouth, quick but promising.

"Sunday?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Wouldn't miss it." Tivaughn smiled. "Someone's gotta keep Z's braids fresh."

"Right," Reece's mouth curved slightly. "The braids."

At the door, he paused. "Ti?"

"Yeah?"

"You sure about this? About..." he gestured between them, all that earlier vulnerability creeping back in.

Tivaughn crossed to him, pressed him against the door for one more kiss that left them both breathless.

"Been sure," he murmured against Reece's mouth. "Now go get your boy."

Later that night, after Tivaughn had finally closed up and made it home, his phone lit up:"Z's asking if you're coming over for dinner tomorrow"

Then: "After the shop closes"

Tivaughn smiled at his phone. "Wouldn't miss it"

The response was quick: "Good"

And then: "Been sure about you too"

Tivaughn fell asleep with those words burning bright in his chest, knowing everything had changed but feeling, for the first time in a long time, completely ready for whatever came next