(Pepperjack always looks so judgmental.)

Ranger stayed still for however long it took Heian to find himself again. When that time finally came, he watched silently as the man pulled away slowly, straightened his stature and forced an exhausted, fake smile. 

This definitely hadn't been how he'd thought their night would go, but he could tell that it was about to get much worse if he didn't try to pull Heian out of his own head for a little while. 

"Hey love?" 

The word felt awkward on his tongue, especially since it was Heian's pet name for him, but he felt like it needed to be said right then, so he just let it happen. Thankfully, it seemed to work, because he felt the static in Heian's mind quiet a little as he blinked away the last of the water trying to escape his reddened eyes. 

"Both of the kids are asleep," Ranger said slowly, trying to plan his words as carefully as possible. He was just opening his mouth to speak again when his stomach growled loud enough to wake the dead. 

Oops...

His cat had evidently drained him of both energy and sustenance. He thought that he'd just ruined the situation by being hungry, but when he saw Heian's eyes squint as he gave out a quiet, tired laugh, he halted his oncoming awkward apology. 

"I butchered a few chickens the other day... how does chicken noodle soup and garlic bread sound?" Heian asked with a slight head tilt that allowed a few lengths of his long, soft hair to drift in front of his eyes before he brushed it back behind his ear. 

Fuck, I think that sentence just got me partially hard. 

Ranger yelped abruptly when Heian yanked him into another, much stronger hug. He also buried his face back into Ranger's shoulder, but this time it was to try and stifle his loud laughter. 

"You are a treasure, love," Heian whispered against his neck as he kissed it. 

Ranger was about to think something along the lines of not truly deserving such praise, because he was still very uncertain about the new child that would surely be a part of his life if he remained with Heian, but before he could even process the words, he was being lifted up into Heian's arms like a child. 

Damn, I could have sworn that we were close to the same size. 

"Happiness can make people a tad stronger than they usually are... and I just wanted to hold you," Heian said as he turned and carried him back inside, nudging the door shut with his foot. 

Ranger reached over and turned the lock, but he fidgeted a few times while doing so because someone was taking full advantage of him still being naked and squeezing his backside a bit much. 

When he turned his body back to face Heian and met the man's dark eyes, he easily saw the mischief trying, but failing, to hide behind his pupils. 

"I feel like you should have been a fox shifter instead of a horse," Ranger grumbled out as he tried to hide his own growing smile. 

Heian let it slide with a wink before carrying Ranger all the way up the stairs to their room. 

"Is your cat okay for a while?" Heian asked after setting Ranger down, before finding him some of the clothing he'd left there last time. 

Nodding, Ranger accepted the items and quickly got dressed. 

"I should be good." 

He wanted to say why his cat had reacted the way it had, but he didn't want to bring up the whole situation again. They could discuss it another time. His feline had gotten quite possessive. 

"Good. I'm going to give the police a call and just let them know what happened. I'm sure they'll be out here either tonight or tomorrow," Heian said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, surprising him. 

Of course, they did need to be contacted, but he was surprised that he was willing to do it right after having broken down. 

He watched as the man steeled himself and dialed the phone for the local non-emergency police department. Instead of wandering around or going downstairs, Ranger walked over to him and sat down right up against his side. 

He got a confused look for the action, but when he leaned his head against the man's shoulder and closed his eyes, he felt Heian take in a deep breath, then blow it out in relief before someone picked up the phone on the other end of the call. 

The conversation got tense quickly when the dispatcher began getting the worst parts of the story. She said that she would be sending out officers for a wellness check and to possibly take the child, but Heian was adamant, without being rude, that he would like it to stay with him if possible, after any possible necessary medical treatment the foal might need, because he was the father of the child's half sister. 

The woman said that she would pass along the information to the officers coming out, but she couldn't make any kind of promises on how the situation would be handled. 

He acknowledged that he understood and gave her his address, then they both hung up. 

"They'll be here in about an hour or so, I'd bet," he said as he turned. 

Feeling the motion against his cheek where it rested against Heian's shoulder drew Ranger out of his accidental doze. 

Oops, again. 

He slowly lifted his head to look at Heian, but the other man was already reaching toward his chin. When his fingers got there, he tilted it up just a tiny bit more before leaning forward to seal his lips over his. 

They kissed for quite a while before he felt gentle pressure against his shoulder, guiding him backwards until he felt the soft blankets of the bed against his back. 

He'd had a feeling that Heian might want some stress relief after that phone call, so Ranger wasn't too surprised when the man's hands began to wander. 

Maybe I shouldn't have gotten dressed yet, he thought as he felt Heian's mouth begin to suck at his neck and just barely managed to hold back a moan. 

If you hadn't gotten dressed, I might not have gotten to that phone call until much later. 

Ranger was going to mumble something verbally in response, but a moan slipped out instead, making his face heat even worse as Heian pushed his shirt up and began kissing down his chest. 

He wasn't sure why the guy was doing such things to him when, if it were him in the same situation, he'd want to have it done to himself. 

"Everyone is different, love," Heian whispered against the spot right above his bellybutton. 

He couldn't argue that... and he'd just found out a new way he was different, too. 

"Hmm?" 

Ranger turned his head away against the blankets as his face burned hotter. 

"You like this spot?" Heian questioned with a hint of mischief to his voice. 

After he spoke he tilted his head down and licked the length of warm skin from the top of Ranger's bellybutton up through his torso. 

Ranger couldn't help but clench the muscles there and shiver as Heian's tongue passed over them, making his stomach feel strange. Worried that his voice would fail him again, he decided to put their bond to use. 

I don't know. It feels strange but good...

That seemed to be all the motivation Heian needed. He quickly began licking and nipping at the area, making Ranger squirm more and more as he went. 

You're having too much fun torturing me, he thought to the man through his blurring mind. 

He could feel exactly how much delight his little sensitive spot was really bringing the guy because Heian's mind had cleared away all of its previous negativity and was just humming with curious excitement. 

"I am enjoying finding new things to love about you," Heian said before lifting his lips to one of Ranger's nipples. 

Moaning again, Ranger tilted his head back and blinked open his eyes the slightest amount as he worked on trying to keep his breathing even. 

Wait a second. 

Heian stopped his attentions immediately and lifted his head. 

"What is wrong?" 

"Door..." Ranger rasped, proud that the word sounded somewhat intelligible. 

Heian followed his line of sight and pursed his lips. 

"Don't wanna get up," he mumbled like a scolded child that wouldn't get out of bed in the morning. 

Honestly, he didn't want to, either, but being caught by your boyfriend's kid while doing naughty things? Definitely not an embarrassment he thought he could live through. 

"I can sense when Nia is up and about, and I can hear pretty well too if that foal decides to start heading up the stairs," Heian said with a sheepish look that made Ranger slowly sit up, making the man slide down to sit on his abdomen. 

"We still  need to get downstairs for the officers. We also might want to wake up that foal and see if he can shift or not," Ranger said, making himself be the voice of reason... even though he had no doubt that Heian could feel himself being poked by something where he sat. 

He could see the guy struggling with his decision, but he knew that it was more for show than anything. Heian was a top notch father and wouldn't risk making any mistakes just for a little sex. No matter how amazing it had been...

Dammit. What happened to me always trying to do it as much as possible? 

One hour would have been more than enough for a good round. 

Heian didn't say it outright, but he could still hear the man's thoughts bounce back and forth about maturity and slight obsession. That pretty much summed up their current relationship, oddly enough. 

Reaching up, Ranger poked the side of Heian's lips and gave him a small grin. 

"Later, in your hot tub?" he asked, raising his eyebrows the slightest amount. 

When Heian slid his tongue along his bottom lip, Ranger felt like he'd just promised himself to more than just some sex in a hot tub. 

Oh, it will be much more, came Heian's response as he leaned forward one last time to steal a kiss, then rolled off the bed and ran downstairs, leaving Ranger staring out the door, confused where the guy had gotten his sudden burst of energy and excited attitude from. 

Slowly, Ranger got up from the bed and headed downstairs, but what he saw when he stepped halfway down the flight had him pausing where he stood. 

He'd shifted. 

The little boy looked quite similar to his half sister, with dark hair and soft eyes. Heian currently had him in his arms after having wrapped one of the smaller blankets around his lower half, allowing the boy to look over his shoulder at him with hesitant curiosity. 

He looked like he was around four or so, and as Ranger focused a little more on his face as he hunched closer against Heian, he realized something. 

He's blind. 

Heian turned and looked at him over his shoulder, a sad but caring expression in his eyes as they heard a knock sound at the front door. 

They're early...

Best to get this figured out now, came Heian's response as he put on a small smile and turned to carry the boy to the door. 

By the way. His name is Toshi, and it seems like he can speak a little. He's just extremely shy and confused right now, so I didn't want to push him at all. 

He could totally understand that. 

Steeling his own nerves, Ranger finished descending the stairs and walked over, standing just the slightest bit behind Heian so that he was out of the way, but still very much present for support.