(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 453: A promise is a promise
Noah was very flustered and embarrassed when he woke up the next morning and had to face both Andrew and Maxwell again. Andrew thought it was no big deal, people drank, but Maxwell had a devious little grin on his face.
He clearly wasn't going to forget what he'd gotten up to last night, and Noah knew that he wasn't going to drop it either. Maxwell was about as devious as any member of a true alpha family, he just used his powers for good.
Andrew knew that, and so did Noah. He just also knew that he couldn't turn against Andrew or Maxwell now.
Noah tried to flee the house as soon as he woke up, but it was Maxwell who caught him and forced him to come into the kitchen and sit down. Andrew had made him breakfast, and Maxwell was going to make sure that he ate it.
Noah, Andrew could tell, was rather awkward in the morning. He clearly was embarrassed by his behaviour from last night, but Andrew didn't think of it in the same way. While he had still been asleep, Andrew had told Maxwell about his meetings yesterday and had explained the missing pieces from last night.
That meant that Maxwell was all caught up and he had more ammo to tease Noah with if he wanted.
Andrew watched Noah and how much he wanted to escape and put both of his elbows on the counter, smiling at the other man.
"You know," Andrew started, "I feel closer to you now that we've spent a night like that together." Andrew told him. Noah, who had been mid bite, paused. He looked up at the smiling Andrew, glanced over at Maxwell, and clearly grew more suspicious as Andrew's smile grew wider.
"I uh, I'm glad?" He said nervously and Andrew laughed.
"I just wanted you to know, since it feels like you don't want to remember the night at all." Andrew said with a grin. Noah looked even more embarrassed at Andrew's words.
"I remember most of the night. That's…why I'm…" Noah trailed off, looking down at the plate before him. Maxwell chuckled, sipping at his glass of orange juice.
"Relax, Noah. We aren't judging you for your behaviour, and even if we were, I know both Andy and I have behaved worse in public." Maxwell said with a naughty grin. Noah ducked his head, sighing heavily.
"That doesn't comfort me, Maxwell. I'm not sure if being compared to you two is a smart idea on my part." Noah muttered. Andrew placed a hand on his chest as if he was offended.
"You don't want to be like your older brother?" Andrew asked, sounding terribly sad. Noah snapped his head up, his eyes wide as he stared at the watery-eyed Andrew. Maxwell chuckled to himself, shaking his head at Andrew's theatrics. Andrew even threw in a wobbly lip to really sell it.
"Uh, well, I just-" Noah was tripping over himself, trying to answer Andrew without incriminating himself. "How did you know you were my older brother?" Noah asked and Andrew dropped the act, grinning at Noah.
"Mmm, a feeling, honestly. I don't think I'm the oldest of that man's kids, but I have to be up there." Andrew said and Noah swallowed.
"You are." Noah said, and Andrew blinked. "You are the oldest. There was someone before you, but…they passed away about 15 years ago." Noah told him and Andrew was surprised to hear that.
He stood up, his hands on the edge of the counter, surprise washing over him. Maxwell sipped his juice slowly and Andrew had the distinct feeling that the man already knew that. After all, he had given him permission to look into his family and their history.
"I had no idea. When I met Nicole yesterday, she mentioned that she was my younger sister but I didn't really think much of it." Andrew said carefully and Noah's gaze sharpened. He nodded, poking at the food on his plate.
"Yeah. There are a bunch of us born around the same time, and you're only older by like, 8 months compared to some of us, but yeah." Noah said lamely, rambling slightly. Andrew let the words sit with him for a moment.
He expected to be more angry, but he found that he couldn't muster the feeling. He had expected that. If his father was going to be trash, it only made sense that he had gotten a bunch of people pregnant at the same time.
Maxwell's heavy sigh from the side had Andrew and Noah looking over at him. He was just quietly, with great dignity, cutting away at his breakfast.
"Trash is trash, hmm?" He said mildly when he felt both men looking at him. Andrew felt his heart jump in his chest as he realised that they had both been thinking about the same thing, before he smiled.
"Well, we can't say that. If dear Noah gets his wish, he might get his partners pregnant at the same time too." Andrew said and watched as Noah grew embarrassed all over again.
"That isn't very likely that I'll get my way so don't hold your breath." Noah mumbled and Maxwell and Andrew shared a look.
They were going to find a way to pull Noah in the direction that he wanted. Part of it was because they cared about the man. Well, more than just a part of it was. Most of the reason why they wanted to give Noah a fighting chance was because he was a good person who was from a shitty family. Like Nicole, that wasn't his fault. It was fucked up that they had used his Mom against him, and both Andrew and Maxwell were in agreement about that.
The other part? Well, that was revenge, and Maxwell took most of the credit and planning for that. Andrew had a feeling he was already working on it. He was on and off of his phone while they were having breakfast, but it wasn't the usual work behaviour. He was smiling too much for that to be the case.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Andrew said cryptically, and Noah gave him a rather confused look. He slid his gaze to Maxwell, who gave him an even more confusing smile, and Noah just had to sit in the awkwardness for a little bit as the couple said nothing.
Shortly after that, Noah finished up breakfast and it was time for both Noah and Maxwell to leave the house. Andrew's classes were online today, so he was staying home. It worked out wonderfully for the throbbing headache he had been putting aside to not worry either Noah or Maxwell.
Maxwell seemed to notice, however, and slid pain medication in Andrew's direction at he was leaving with a wink. Andrew made sure to give him the most lovey dovey treatment as he was pulling away. Just nuzzling and kissing him, making the normally stoic man giggle as Andrew teased him.
Andrew kind of forgot that Noah was still in the house. When the garage door closed, he looked up and found Noah staring at him with such a look of longing that it made Andrew's heart ache for the other man. Andrew went to him, wrapping him up in his arms and giving him a hug.
"Don't lose hope. First step Noah, we get your Mom to safety." Noah tensed in Andrew's arms before pulling back. He looked at him in worry, his expression clouded.
"Andrew, I didn't come here looking for you two to solve my problems. I-" He was panicking, clearly not wanting to get Andrew in more trouble. Andrew didn't really mind, but he could tell that Noah was a good boy. He didn't like getting others involved in his problems.
Like Andrew.
"We know that you didn't come to us for that. We know, Noah. Think of it as two older brothers who are too damn nosy for their own good, alright? Plus, your Mom is still alive. I just know they would do the same damn thing to me if my Mom was. Hell, they might even try to harm her grave because they know it would upset me." Andrew told Noah softly and the man looked horrified, but not shocked.
It was clear he didn't put anything past his, their, family.
Noah stared at Andrew, his arms shaking slightly from where he held him, listening to Maxwell's car as it pulled out of the garage and left for work.
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me." Noah said and Andrew smiled at him.
"Ditto. Don't think I don't know you are in this situation because you spoke up against what they were trying to do to me. You did the right thing, it doesn't make sense that you should be punished for that." Andrew told him and Noah's eyes watered. He dropped his head, trying to compose himself, and Andrew let him.
"I…should go. I need to get ready for work." Noah croaked out and Andrew gave him a light squeeze.
"I won't keep you then. Stay safe, Noah. You know how to reach me." Andrew told him and Noah nodded. He gave Andrew a look filled with things he wanted to say, but didn't, before he left the house. Andrew stood in the doorway, watching the man leave as the security did a switch out for the day.
It was a bit surreal, but that was what Andrew's life was turning into. One filled with being a safe harbour for those who were stuck in bad situations.
He had a feeling his Mom would be pretty proud of him for that.
Waving to the team coming on, Andrew turned and head back inside, making a beeline for the pain medication that Maxwell had left out for him. He was going to need it to get through all the school work he was going to have to do.
Staring at screens also made his head throb as well. It was why he liked being hands on in his previous profession.
