Eclipsed Bonds

Ethan wasn't sure if the shirt they'd given him was a joke or not.

It hung loosely on his small frame, the soft fabric pooling around his wrists and brushing his knees. The faint scent of cedar and something musky clung to it, a reminder that it probably belonged to one of them. He tugged at the hem, trying to ignore how tiny he felt.

When he'd protested about wearing it last night, Teagan had simply grinned and said, "Unless you'd prefer to sleep shirtless like us?" That had shut him up fast.

Still, waking up surrounded by shirtless giants with perfect abs and unfairly handsome faces had been more embarrassing than anything else. He didn't belong in their world, in their home—or their bed, for that matter.

The thought made him groan softly as he padded down the hallway, his bare feet barely making a sound against the cool floor. The shirt—if you could even call it that—swayed with each step, and he couldn't help feeling like a kid playing dress-up.

When he reached the dining room, the sight that greeted him made him pause.

They were all there, seated at the table, and for once, they weren't shirtless. Teagan was in a crisp white shirt with the top buttons undone, his blond hair still slightly messy. Ronan wore a dark, fitted turtleneck that hugged his broad shoulders, his sharp blue eyes scanning something on a piece of parchment. Callum was impeccably dressed in a black button-down, his silver-streaked hair catching the light. And Elias, in a deep green shirt rolled up to his forearms, exuded quiet authority as he sipped his tea.

Ethan hesitated in the doorway, feeling like an intruder in a painting come to life.

"You're late," Teagan called out, his grin widening as he looked up.

Ethan scowled, shuffling into the room. "I didn't realize there was a schedule."

Ronan's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "We figured you'd oversleep. You were snoring pretty loud last night."

"I do not snore!" Ethan snapped, his cheeks flushing.

"You kind of do," Teagan said, his grin turning mischievous.

Ethan groaned, sinking into the chair they'd clearly set aside for him. "Why am I even here? Shouldn't I be back in my room?"

Teagan leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "You looked comfortable enough. Thought we'd save you the trip."

Ethan glared at him. "You could've just left me there. I'm sure your... whatever this is doesn't need me getting in the way."

Ronan raised a brow. "Whatever what is?"

Ethan gestured vaguely at the four of them. "You know. The whole shared bed thing. I don't want to disturb your... relationship."

There was a beat of silence before Teagan burst out laughing.

"Oh, that's priceless," he said, slapping the table. "You think we're together?"

Ethan blinked, confused. "Aren't you?"

Callum rubbed his temples, clearly trying to suppress a smile. "No, Ethan. We're not in a relationship."

"But... you all sleep in the same room. And you're always... together," Ethan said, his voice faltering.

"That's called being brothers," Teagan said, still grinning.

"Well, not brothers by blood," Ronan clarified, his tone amused. "But close enough."

Ethan stared at them, his embarrassment rising with each passing second. "Oh."

Teagan leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "Disappointed?"

"What? No!" Ethan sputtered, his face burning.

Ronan smirked, clearly enjoying Ethan's flustered state. "He thought we were some kind of quadruple couple."

"Stop," Ethan groaned, burying his face in his hands.

Teagan leaned closer, his grin turning teasing. "You're cute when you're embarrassed, you know that?"

"Leave him alone, Teagan," Callum said, though there was a note of amusement in his voice.

Ethan peeked through his fingers, his mortification still evident. "I just thought—I mean, it looked like... never mind."

"Don't worry, Ethan," Teagan said, his tone mock-soothing. "We forgive you for underestimating our charm."

Ethan groaned again, wishing the floor would swallow him whole.

Over Breakfast

Once the teasing subsided—mostly thanks to Callum's intervention—Ethan found himself reluctantly enjoying breakfast.

The food was simple but delicious: fresh bread, fruit, and something that tasted like spiced honey. Despite his initial awkwardness, the warmth of the room and the sound of their voices made him feel oddly at ease.

"You're quiet," Elias said, his deep voice cutting through the gentle hum of conversation.

Ethan glanced up at him, startled. "Oh. I'm just... thinking."

"About?" Elias asked, his green eyes steady.

Ethan hesitated, fiddling with the edge of his oversized sleeve. "About how I'm going to get home."

The air in the room shifted slightly, the lighthearted atmosphere dimming.

"We're working on it," Callum said, his tone calm but firm. "But these things take time."

"What things?" Ethan asked, his frustration bubbling up again. "You keep saying that, but no one will actually explain what's going on!"

Elias set his tea down with a quiet precision that drew Ethan's attention. "You're in a place that operates by different rules, Ethan. What brought you here isn't something we can easily understand or undo."

"That's not an explanation," Ethan said, his voice rising.

"It's all we can give you for now," Elias replied, his tone low but resolute.

Before Ethan could argue, Teagan reached over and ruffled his curls. "Relax, kid. We'll figure it out. In the meantime, you've got us to keep you entertained."

Ethan swatted at his hand, glaring. "You're so annoying."

"You love it," Teagan said, winking.

Despite himself, Ethan felt a small smile tug at his lips.