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Babe had no problem noticing the change in Charlie's behavior over the past few days. When Alpha asked about it, he kept telling him that he had a surprise for him, but he had to wait a while. Charlie was excited, very excited. Babe didn't want to spoil his mood, so he didn't ask too many questions. Charlie's happy mood spread to him as well. As the date for Charlie's meeting with all their friends at the club approached, Babe noticed that Charlie's smile was bringing a wide smile to his lips. He didn't know what Charlie's surprise was. He didn't know if he would like it, but he planned to enjoy it as much as he could so as not to waste Charlie's effort and destroy his joy.
~~~*~~~
Babe went with Way to the club as Charlie had instructed. As he guessed, he had to pick up his surprise, whatever it was.
Way had known Babe for many years and had no trouble noticing his nervousness.
- Whatever he has planned, you know he loves you.
He said, pretending to be calm. Coming to terms with Babe's feelings for Charlie wasn't easy for him. However, months have passed since his confession. They slowly returned to the freedom they had between each other before. Especially with the newly announced relationship between Pete and Way.
Babe forced a smile. He was stressed, although he didn't know what.
- I know he loves me. He had been so excited all last week. I have absolutely no idea what it could be. It can be either a new racing car, a flight to the moon or a baby tiger. You know him. Charlie is unpredictable sometimes. Definitely not predictable.
He replied, rubbing his hands against the fabric of his pants, wiping away the sweat. He really had no idea what Charlie could have prepared for him.
~~~*~~~
They had been at the club for about half an hour when North came to their table and returned with a tray of their drinks. His facial expression was very unnatural. Babe saw North in two editions. Happy, with a wide smile on his face and sparkling eyes, or sad, with his mouth twisted in an exaggerated way and tears on his cheeks. Now he seemed... almost angry?
- What happened?
Way asked before Babe had the chance. North was silent for a moment
.
- I just saw Charlie with some girl at the bar. They kissed.
He said after a while. Babe knew he didn't want to say it. After the whole situation with Tony and years of hiding their feelings for Sonic, they all swore they wouldn't keep any secrets from each other anymore. Way, Babe, North, Sonic and Alan. Their own little family. The core X-Hunter team. They had spent so many years together that trust between them was fundamental.
Way grabbed Babe's hand, squeezing it under the table.
- Maybe…
He started, wanting to defend Charlie. Babe, however, cut off his attempts by growling quietly. If Charlie's surprise was to introduce him to his new partner, he planned to rip out his throat before the end of the evening.
North sat on Babe's other side. He always left this seat free for Charlie. He silently appreciated his friend's actions.
~~~*~~~
Shortly thereafter, Alan joined their group. He also looked dissatisfied.
- What happened?
North asked, suspecting that he had seen exactly the same thing as he had seen before. Alan sighed heavily as he sat down across from Babe. He extended his arm, placing a hand on his shoulder.
- Nothing good.
He began, trying to speak calmly.
- That's right... I saw Charlie from Omega outside the place.
Babe growled. So not only was there a girl they didn't know, now he also had Omega with him? He wanted to get up from his seat, but being surrounded by his friends, he was unable to move or escape them. North's arm wrapped around Babe's waist, and Way moved closer to him, wrapping him in a side hug. Everyone supported him.
The silence between them continued until the rest of their friends and partners joined them.
The only thing missing was Charlie…
~~~*~~~
Charlie walked up to their table a few minutes later, a wide smile on his face. His eyes sparkled with unconcealed joy. Babe was conflicted. He wanted to hit him for breaking his heart, but on the other hand he wanted to embrace him and pull him to him, trap him and never let him leave him again. Babe was able to do this, especially with the support of his friends. He knew Way, North and Alan would help him.
Charlie greeted everyone with a smile. He seemed completely unaware of the dark looks that half the people at the table were giving him. Finally all his attention was on Babe. He turned towards him, just like a sunflower towards the sun. He just looked at him, as he should have. Just like he always should. Charlie should never look at anyone else.
- Do you remember, P'Babe, how I told you about my siblings, about my brother?
Babe nodded automatically. He remembered the fight they had when he suspected Charlie was cheating on him with Jeff. He remembered then mentioning that Jeff wasn't his only brother. That was it. He didn't remember Charlie ever mentioning any other siblings after that.
- I wanted to introduce them to you! I invited them. They are here.
He said with a smile. But that didn't matter to Babe. He didn't care who Charlie brought with him. All he cared about was that his boyfriend, the one he was ready to give his life for, had cheated on him. He was about to open his mouth when he heard a voice behind him
- P'Charlie!
The voice was so similar to Charlie's that he almost flinched. A shiver ran down his spine and his head instinctively turned in that direction. Not far behind him, a few steps from their table, in the aisle, stood Charlie, or not Charlie. A person so similar to Charlie, with the same smile, the same glasses and an equally Charlie-esque shirt. He looked back at Charlie, who was sitting next to him. Charlie's eyes were fixed on Babe, he didn't look away when he was called.
- Come to us, N'Chay!
He replied after a moment.
- Phiii!
The boy called out as he approached their table. There were no more seats, so he stood to the side, looking at everyone with the eyes they knew so well, set on a face they saw every day. Knowing that this was a completely different person than the Charlie they knew felt like a lie to them. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Babe would never have believed it.
- Where's N'Sar?
Charlie asked after a moment, finally turning to face his copy.
- He buys drinks for Lel and Sai.
The other one said with a smile. Babe was scared by how well he knew that smile. He reached out towards Charlie, grabbing his hand. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on when another man appeared next to the first copy of Charlie. It looked identical to the previous one.
Charlie smiled at Babe.
- Let me introduce you. These are my younger brothers: N'Chay.
He said pointing to the first boys
- And N'Sar.
He pointed to the other one.
Babe had so many questions, he didn't know where to start.
- Like you…
He started, but was unable to finish the question. He didn't know how to ask about it, how to distinguish his boyfriend from his copy.
- They don't normally look like that. Sar usually wears more girly clothes, and Chay has piercings in his ears.
He said with a smile.
- And we don't normally wear glasses.
Said one of the two copies of Charlie.
- It was N'Sar's idea.
Charlie said with a smile.
- Aren't they cute when they try to imitate their Phi?
He asked. Babe really didn't think it was cute. He will see this image in his nightmares for a long time. He focused on the smells. Only Charlie didn't have that disgusting Alpha smell. The other two copies had it. One smelled like burning rubber, the other like boiling oil. Babe was sure he wouldn't confuse them if he could feel them.
He pulled Charlie closer, wrapping his arms around him.
He tried to get the image he was already starting to form out of his head. Charlie didn't betray him. Charlie would never betray him. He had to trust Charlie. It's just his identical brothers he didn't know existed and their partners.
Everything was fine.
He could live with that.
The thought of locking Charlie up in the house and never letting him out again had not completely disappeared from his mind, but it had become quieter.
Will come back to this topic later.
Now he tried not to scare the younger brothers of the love of his life.
Everything was fine.
Charlie still loved him.
He could take care of the rest later...