The Only Rule

"Ok all good?"

Dan asked, his right hand hanging onto the rim of his van's trunk. Down below, Dominic and Tyler were lifting a Fender and an amp into the car. After they finished, they rubbed their hands like a fly scheming to annoy the rest of humanity.

Nodding in assurance, Hunt replied, "I think we're all good," then turned his head back and called out to Liam and Val, who were just descending the stairs, leaving the bar. "All out?"

Skipping a few steps, Liam shouted, "Yeah! All good!"

Turning back to Dan, Dominic nodded and let Dan close the trunk. Resting his hand on the cup, Dan looked over at him and asked, "Alright—so you really aren't coming with us? Still fits for two more,"

"Nah, I'll catch up later. Need to warm up the car anyway—baby's been collecting dust," Hunt said, patting the hood.

Dan raised a brow. "Hasn't it been like—your daily ride for the month—"

"Well she needs even more TLC," he grinned, brushing it off.

Still looked unconvinced, Dan tilted his head in confusion—before nodding to Tyler, who's been holding back a laugh, proposing, "Just let the duo take it bro, we need to review anyway—"

"Naaah, not trusting her with them," Dominic replied with a big grin, adding, "besides—Ren's still gonna be late. I could review 'em with her first—"

"Come on she'll be out in 30—ok, how about we wait—"

"Bro, drop it."

When Tyler cut him off, a hand already placed on Dan's shoulder, nodding for him to just get the hint and leave the fuck out.

From the back, Val walked past, casting Hunt a narrowed, knowing look, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. Just then, Wyatt walked by and gave him a playful jolt to the head, laughing, "Zip it, Dan. You act like you've never been in love before."

Val chuckled and climbed into the van, but Dan still stood there, eyes darting between them, confused—until realization finally dawned. "Wait—" he started to piece it together, but Tyler, still grinning, was already dragging him into the driver's seat. Once he was seated, Dan mouthed to Tyler, "Him and Paradis? No way—they're mortal enemies—"

"Dan you're a fucking dipwit." When from beside him, Val gave him an exasperated look.

"Quit it." Dominic finally walked over with his arms folded, acting unbothered. Next to him, Liam had his arm casually slung around Dominic's shoulders, an amused grin on his face. The sunlight cast a halo-like glow around the two blonds, like they were angels—albeit very mischievous ones.

Behind Dan's dumbfounded look, Val leaned out of the van's window. "Alright, meet us backstage later," he said, smirking.

Hunt nodded, "Got it. Drive safe you guys."

The three musketeers waved as the van pulled away, wearing matching grins—but not until Liam dropped a bomb.

"So, where were we?"

Hunt's grin instantly turned into a frown. "Get lost," he muttered, shrugging Wyatt's arm off his shoulders. Cavill burst out laughing, following him as he stormed ahead, leaving the other blonde staring after them with a wtf look—before he groaned and jogged to catch up.

"So you're telling me she's still hung up on her ex—and yet you're ready to dive in? She's a Red flag, my dude!" he warned dramatically, throwing an exaggerated look at Dominic, before shifting his glare to Tyler to say, "Precedent."