Chapter Text
“Fine,” Molly tells him. He can't let Caleb go. If their friends don't arrive in time, at least the two of them will be together. He can't lose Caleb. Not now. Not after he's realized he's in love with him. When he hasn't even told him he's in love with him. He keeps his arms spread, showing his obedience. Trent nods towards the front door.
“After you.” Molly walks toward the door. He puts his hands up so Trent can see them at all times, keeping his strides slow but purposeful. Hopefully his friends can see something is wrong if they happen to be outside when he exits the store. He pulls the door open, keeping one hand up at all time, and glancing over his shoulder. Trent and Caleb are following. Trent still has his hand on Caleb's shoulder. He looks to his right as he exits the store and sees all of their friends rushing up the sidewalk. He gives them a look and they duck behind cars.
“Where to? I don't know where we're going.” Molly glances back again. Trent doesn't seem to notice anything amiss. Yet.
“Turn left. I will give you further instructions as you need them.”
“If you insist.” Molly turns left, away from his friends. “So you're a wizard, too?”
“I am. No more small talk. Just walk.” Molly glances back again. His friends are slowly creeping from their hiding spots.
“You'll forgive me if I keep looking back. I don't trust you and I don't want to be without Caleb. You want him, that's fine. But you get me, too. We're a package deal.” He hopes his rambling covers any sounds the Nein are making.
“As long as you keep walking and don't try anything, that is fine with me.”
“Mollymauk, please,” Caleb starts, but Trent jerks him roughly, shutting him up.
When Molly judges the timing to be right, he stops and turns around. “Actually, this isn't okay. Caleb and I are leaving. This is your final chance.”
Trent doesn't get a chance to reply. Yasha's great sword slashes across his back, causing his grip on Caleb's shoulder to loosen. Caleb tries to duck out of the way, but falls to the sidewalk instead as sickly green energy flickers from Trent into him. Molly screams and rushes toward him. Fjord's sword slashes. A crossbow bolt embeds itself into Trent's stomach. Beau punches him numerous times, causing him to fall to his knees. And a giant lollipop bashes him in the skull. Cad rushes to Caleb, pink healing energy swirling around them.
Molly drags Caleb away from the fight. Molly has no weapon, and Caleb was still gravely injured. Once a respectable distance, Caleb throws a few spells at Trent. Molly stands in front, slightly to the side of him in order to block anything Trent sends their way. The street lights up with flashing lights, and suddenly Trent is surrounded by crownsguard. He begins to cast something, but Caleb shoots something else at him that makes it ineffective.
It all took a lifetime, yet only minutes simultaneously. Trent is cuffed, a collar placed around his neck. His eyes are daggers, attempting to skewer Caleb. Caleb just looks exhausted. Once Trent is taken away, they all pile into the bookstore where they answer questions for hours. It's very late when their friends finally leave and Caleb locks the door behind them. Molly grabs the bag he left at the front door.
“I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted,” Molly states as he begins heading for the stairs. He keeps his eyes on Caleb the whole time, afraid to let him out of his sight.
“Exhausted seems like such an understatement at the moment.” Caleb gives him a wry smile. They head upstairs and lock the doors behind them.
“I hope you're okay with me being here all the time. Because I think it'll be quite some time before I feel comfortable staying the night away from you.”
“The feeling is mutual, Mollymauk. Thank you.” Caleb pulls him into a tight hug, pressing his face into Molly's neck.
“For what?” Molly presses kisses across his temple.
“For understanding that something was wrong. If Trent had managed to leave with me, I fear you all would never have seen me again.”
“I'm glad I understood. You were brilliant with your code. Made it easy to tell something was wrong.” Caleb pulls back and draws Molly into a deep kiss. Molly pours all of his love into the kiss, desperate for Caleb to understand.
“I can't lose you. Any of you. But especially you, Mollymauk.”
“I can't lose you, either. It's over now, Caleb.” Molly presses kisses across his face, ending on his lips. Things heat up quickly and they end up, much later, curled together in Caleb's bed.
Molly is so full of love for this man, he thinks he might burst. And suddenly it doesn't seem so scary to tell him. He almost lost Caleb today. He almost lost the man he loves so dearly. At the very least, he has to tell him. So he leans up on his elbow and looks down at Caleb. He brushes his hair out of his face, placing a soft kiss on his lips. He pulls back slightly, staring deep into his blue eyes and he whispers, “I love you.”
Caleb reaches up and pulls Molly to him, deepening the kiss slightly. “I love you, too, Mollymauk.”
The next few weeks pass uneventfully. Trent is sent back to prison, this time in a much more secure facility. The Nein establish codes for when they're in trouble so something like what happened is never left to chance again. Caleb also has to promise everybody he will let them know if Trent ever escapes again, and not keep it a secret. He agrees. And Mollymauk spends every minute he's not at work with Caleb. Which is absolutely alright with Caleb. He'd prefer to never have Mollymauk out of his sight again. More and more of Mollymauks things have found permanent places within Caleb's apartment. Their apartment. It should officially be their apartment.
Him and Mollymauk are folding laundry when Caleb decides it's time. Molly already has a section in the closet. And a few drawers. Time to make it official. Caleb clears his throat.
“Mollymauk?” he asks, looking up from the shirt he's folding. Mollymauk looks up from a towel he was attempting to fold.
“Hmmm?” he responds.
“Will you move in with me?” Mollymauk breaks into a wide smile.
“I'd love to, Mister Caleb!”
“You already do, really. But officially. I want you to live here. Get your mail here. Bring the rest of your stuff here.” Mollymauk crosses the short distance between them, planting a sloppy kiss on his lips.
“Absolutely, Mister Caleb. Plus, I'm pretty sure Yasha wants Beau to move in with her, so I'm sure this will be a welcome surprise. She'd never kick me out, but she's definitely been dropping little hints and asking me about moving in with you. In her very Yasha way, of course.”
“Of course. Things are serious there, then? Between Yasha and Beau?”
“Very serious. Same with Jester and Fjord, honestly. Although, Fjord's a bit old fashioned, so I give it another few months before they move in together. But it'll definitely happen.”
“Well, it will certainly make movie night a little easier. Only 4 places to go instead of 7.”
“I'm just glad everyone is so happy. I feel so ridiculously happy most of the time. I like seeing our friends feel the same.”
“I love you, Mollymauk.”
“I love you, too, Mister Caleb.”