it's not like alexei didn't try to keep thomas at arms length. if anything, he was the complete opposite of inviting when they first met. thinking back to those times, alexei wonders how the hell the older male had managed to have so much patience with him. he had been a nightmare. a bullying, bratty, shit talking little fuck. he really feels like if thomas didn't directly work for his family, his insults towards him would have easily earned him a well deserved punch to the face. somewhere down the line, this happened, and now alexei can't imagine not having thomas in his life. he doesn't think anyone else knows him, not in the way he does. no one has seen him at his absolute high and rock bottom lows before besides him, and somehow, alexei's actions didn't drive him away.
he's giggling softly as the other pulls him closer, gladly allowing himself to be embraced by him. alexei smiles so wide, he actually shows his teeth, a very rare thing for him to do because he hates his smile, isn't a fan of how his top front teeth are just the tiniest bit crooked. “oh yeah, you'll easily beat the crap out of anyone with these bad boys.” he gently squeezes thomas' upper bicep to get his point across, always impressed by the muscle he carried. “but the one who would absolutely annihilate anyone is me, of course. they’re all frightened when i walk by.” his tone is so deadpan, as if he could really cause any harm when you could even see his overly defined collarbones pop out through his oversized tee. he's never even punched anyone in the face before, his energy radiating as someone who would break their hand if he even tried. this is his silly, fun loving side that no one really sees. even members of his family don't know him like this. he's gazing into the other's emerald green hues, his own reflecting a lighter shade of gray, shifting to blue. it's hard for him to remember anything else when his heart is beating so damn loud in his chest. his lanky fingers reach up to sweetly caress his cheek, inching closer to him as his thumb offers thomas the sweetest touch. “yeah?” he's chewing on his bottom lip. “i'm your boy. i'm all yours.” he whispers, feeling his cheeks turning hot, knowing he was blushing. slowly, he leans in, noses touching, until he brushes his lips against his, pulling away slightly, but resting their foreheads together. “i think the doctor ordered that too.” he speaks softly, referring to the kiss. “and a night of gazing at the stars and looking at the waves together, of course. you know, without having to worry that someone might be back at any minute now.” yet, he didn't bother to move an inch away from the other.