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Both the sunlight outside and the clock on the wall told Dom it was well past eleven, and the house was as noisy as ever. Mia and Jesse's laughter filled the air from outside, where they were supposed to be assembling the trampoline they had just bought, and the distant, grumpy sounds of Vince moving around downstairs were punctuated by a curse and the unmistakable sound of him likely knocking over the milk bottle. Dom stretched and paused his work on the car.
The only thing missing was Brian.
Last night had been one of those marathon poker sessions between Brian and Vince that seemed to stretch into the early hours. Dom remembered hearing their laughter and good-natured trash talk echoing from the kitchen until almost four in the morning. Vince had finally dragged himself out of bed around ten-thirty, looking like he'd been hit by a truck, but Brian's room remained suspiciously quiet.
Dom padded down the hallway in bare feet, pausing outside Brian's door. He knocked gently, waiting for the usual grumpy grunt or muffled "five more minutes" that typically served as Brian's morning greeting. Nothing.
He eased the door open and couldn't help but smile at what he found. Brian was completely dead to the world, face buried so deep in his pillow that only a mess of blond hair was visible. One arm hung off the edge of the bed, and his breathing was so deep and peaceful that Dom actually felt a pang of guilt about having to wake him.
But they'd all agreed on the beach today, and knowing Brian, he'd be grumpy as hell if they left without him. Plus, the guy needed his coffee - Dom had learned that lesson the hard way during Brian's first week living with them.
Dom approached the bed quietly, settling on the edge of the mattress. He reached out and gently brushed the hair away from Brian's face, his thumb tracing along Brian's temple in a soft, familiar gesture.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Dom murmured, his voice warm with affection. "Time to rejoin the land of the living."
Brian made a small sound that might have been protest and burrowed deeper into the pillow.
Dom chuckled, continuing his gentle touches. "Come on, Bri. It's almost noon. Your coffee's getting cold downstairs." He paused, grinning mischievously. "And if you don't get up soon, I'm giving Vince the keys to that new ride you won off that guy last week. Do you really want to take the risk of letting him drive it?"
That got a reaction. Brian's eyes cracked open, unfocused and bleary, but definitely awake. He turned his head just enough to glare at Dom.
"You wouldn't dare," Brian mumbled into the pillow, his voice thick with sleep.
"Try me," Dom said, still smiling. "Vince is already talking about taking it for a 'test drive' around the block. Says he wants to see what you were so excited about."
Brian groaned and finally rolled over, blinking up at Dom with that adorable, confused expression he always wore when he first woke up. His hair was sticking up in every direction, and there was a crease on his cheek from the pillowcase.
"What time is it?" Brian asked, stretching like a cat.
"Late enough that Mia's already threatening to leave without us if we're not ready in an hour," Dom replied, standing up. "Get yourself together and come downstairs. I'll make sure your coffee's hot, and you can help me with lunch before we head out."
Brian sat up slowly, running his hands through his hair in a futile attempt to tame it. "Yeah, alright. Give me ten minutes."
Dom headed for the door, then paused and looked back. "And Brian? Don't even think about going back to sleep, or I'll send Jesse up here with an air horn."
"You're all heart, Dom," Brian called after him, but he was smiling.
Twenty minutes later, Brian shuffled into the kitchen, looking more human after what Dom assumed was a quick shower. His hair was still damp, and he wore one of his favorite worn t-shirts and board shorts, clearly already thinking about the beach.
"Coffee," Brian said simply, making grabby hands toward the pot like a zombie, proving he looked human but wasn't quite functioning like one yet.
Dom handed him a steaming mug, already prepared exactly how Brian liked it - strong, with just a splash of milk. "Drink up, sunshine. We've got cooking to do."
Brian took a long, grateful sip and immediately perked up, moving to stand beside Dom at the counter, studying the chaos of ingredients spread out everywhere. "What are we making?"
"Pasta salad for the beach, and sandwiches," Dom said. "Think you can handle chopping vegetables without losing a finger?"
"My cooking skills have improved," Brian protested. Dom watched him, fighting back a smile at how seriously Brian approached cooking despite his obvious lack of natural talent. There was something endearing about the way he studied each tomato like he was planning a surgical procedure.
He found himself watching Brian work, noting the way his movements were still a little clumsy from sleep - or maybe just because food was still a mystery to him.
"Here, let me show you," Dom said, moving to stand behind Brian and covering his hands with his own. "Keep your fingers curved like this, and use a sawing motion instead of pressing down."
This had become their routine over the months - Dom teaching Brian to cook, Brian soaking up the attention like a plant turning toward sunlight.
Brian tried following the guidance. "Like this?"
"Good. Now try not to massacre the tomatoes," he said, stepping back but staying close enough to supervise.
Brian stuck his tongue out in concentration as he worked, and every time he successfully chopped something without incident, he'd turn to Dom with this bright, proud smile that made Dom's chest feel warm and full.
After another minute, Dom handed the wooden spoon to him. "Stir the pasta salad while I finish these."
Brian moved to the stove, giving the mixture a few experimental stirs before lifting the spoon to taste it. He made a thoughtful face, then added a pinch more pepper before turning to Dom.
"Try this," he said, holding the spoon out with one hand cupped underneath to catch any drips.
Dom stepped closer and let Brian feed him the spoonful. "Good. Maybe a little more lemon?"
"On it," Brian said, turning back to the bowl.
That's when things went sideways.
Dom wasn't entirely sure how it happened. One second Brian was reaching for the lemon, the next there was pasta salad on the ceiling, the counter, the floor, and somehow splattered across Brian's cheek and hair.
"How?" Dom said, staring up at the ceiling where a glob of mayonnaise-dressed pasta clung precariously. "Brian, how is that even physically possible?"
Brian followed his gaze, looking genuinely bewildered. "I was thinking about the modifications I wanted to make to the new car, and I guess my movements got a little... uncoordinated?"
Dom shook his head, reaching out to wipe a streak of dressing from Brian's cheek with his thumb. "You're something else, you know that?"
Brian grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I'll clean it up."
"First, hold still," Dom said, grabbing a handful of paper towels.
He gently cleaned the rest of the pasta salad from Brian's face and hair, his touch careful and fond. Brian stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on Dom's face with an expression of quiet contentment.
"There," Dom said softly. "You’ll probably need a new shower, though."
By the time they'd finished cleaning and remaking the pasta salad (with Dom doing all the stirring this time), the rest of the family had gathered in the kitchen. Mia was packing sunscreen, fully knowing that none of them would remember to bring it.
"About time," Vince said, eyeing the food appreciatively. "I was starting to think you two had gotten lost in there."
"Brian tried to redecorate the ceiling with lunch," Dom replied, ruffling Brian's now sticky hair.
"It was an accident!" he exclaimed, unable to suppress his laughter.
They gathered around the table to eat, and Vince was already making bold predictions about who would win whatever upcoming competition he was sure they’d have at the beach.
"And of course, if my team wins, I get the car," Vince said innocently, glancing around. Brian shot him a skeptical look.
"I won it! If you wanted it so badly, you shouldn’t have backed out when he asked you first," Brian replied with a smirk, making Vince grumble.
"I didn’t back out! You know I had to go to the bathroom! The guy could have waited five minutes, but no, he asked you."
"And I won. So it’s mine. Stop trying to take it from me."
"I saw it; it looks pretty nice, although the color is… well," Mia interjected.
Brian nodded. "It's a sweet ride, mostly stock but solid bones. The guy seemed pretty upset about loosing it, though. Felt bad for him, honestly."
"Hey, that's the game," Vince said, shrugging. "He put it up, you beat him fair and square. Not your fault he couldn't handle losing."
"Yeah, I know," Brian said, but Dom could hear the slight discomfort in his voice. Brian had always been too soft-hearted for his own good. Street racing always came with its share of sore losers, but most of them knew better than to push things too far.
"Well, his loss is your gain," Jesse said cheerfully. "Are you really going to let Vince drive it? He’s been telling me that since yesterday."
"Over my dead body," Brian shot back, prompting laughter from everyone.
"I'm hurt, Bri," Vince said, placing a hand on his chest in mock agony. "I'm an excellent driver."
"You're an excellent driver who treats every car that isn't yours like it's a rental. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did last time," Brian retorted.
Dom pretended not to notice Vince and Brian tossing pieces of bread at each other.
"Alright, enough with the chatter - and the bread-throwing," Mia declared, raising an eyebrow at them. Vince and Brian had the decency to look guilty.
She stood up to start clearing the plates. "It’s beach time, and I won’t wait for anyone who isn’t ready in fifteen minutes - you’ve been warned!"
What followed was classic Toretto family chaos. Jesse couldn’t locate his good sunglasses or his second flip flop, while Vince was agonizing over three different tank tops as if it were a life-or-death decision. Meanwhile, Mia was doing a final inventory of their beach supplies, ensuring they had everything they needed.
Dom found himself in his room, changing into board shorts and a tank top, when Brian appeared in the doorway.
"You seen my blue snapback anywhere?" Brian asked.
Dom opened his mouth to respond but quickly remembered the terrible secret he had promised Vince never to reveal - a secret that ended with that snapback long gone. "You can use one of mine if you want," Dom suggested, knowing it would catch Brian's attention. He was right; Brian's face lit up.
"You mean, including the red one with the bear on it?"
Dom smiled and nodded. This cap was Brian’s favorite, but Dom was usually protective of it; it was an old one from his favorite baseball team, out of stock for at least twenty years. A vintage cap. "Sure, no point in keeping things if they're never used."
Brian happily rushed into the room, grabbing the cap from its usual spot. Dom never liked lying to Brian, but he had unfortunately caved to Vince's pleadings. Here he was, lying about a cap and risking his precious one ending up in the water. But it was Brian - somehow, even if the cap got lost, a part of Dom felt happy just to see the bright smile on his face.
Brian started to leave, humming happily, then paused. "Hey, Dom? Thanks for waking me up earlier. And for... you know. Being patient with the cooking disaster."
Dom looked up, struck by the sincere gratitude in Brian's voice. "Course, Bri. That's what family does."
Brian gave him a grateful smile in return.
Forty-five minutes later, they were sprawled out on their usual stretch of beach, the cooler was strategically positioned in the shade of their umbrella, while Mia’s towel was laid out with precision to balance sun and shade perfectly. Dom watched Brian immediately head for the water like he was drawn by some magnetic force, Jesse close behind with a boogie board under his arm.
"Ten bucks says Brian tries to show off on that board," Vince said, settling onto his towel with a beer already in hand.
"No bet," Mia replied, applying sunscreen. "We all know how this goes."
Dom chuckled, pulling his shirt over his head before jogging after Brian and Jesse. The water was perfect - warm enough to be comfortable but cool enough to be refreshing with the heat of the day.
Brian was already chest-deep in the water, his hair damp and a grin plastered on his face, looking completely in his element. There was something mesmerizing about seeing Brian in the ocean - Dom loved watching him behind the wheel, recklessly driving, but in the water, Brian seemed even more at home. It was as if he had been a fish in a previous life, or perhaps multiple past lives, and this time around, something had gone wrong, leaving him as a human.
And Dom couldn’t help but feel grateful for that mistake, reminding him just how lucky he was to have him in his life.
"Water's perfect," Brian called out. "Come on, old man, time to show these kids how it's done."
"Old man?" Dom repeated, diving under a wave and surfacing close enough to splash Brian. "I'll show you old man."
What followed was a not surprising water fight that quickly devolved into everyone trying to dunk everyone else when Vince joined them. Jesse proved difficult to catch, darting around like a fish.
Dom and Brian ended up locked in a grappling match, both trying to get the upper hand, when Brian managed to get behind Dom and jump on his back.
"Yes!" Brian declared, wrapping his arms around Dom's neck.
"Not so fast," Dom said, reaching back to grab Brian's legs and adjusting his grip until he had him in a proper piggyback ride. Just as Brian was about to flee, Dom fell backward, and they both tumbled under the water.
Dom quickly turned around, grabbing Brian’s arms. When he opened his eyes, everything was blurry, but Brian was looking right back at him, bursting out laughing. They both quickly resurfaced, gasping for air and still chuckling.
Vince was trying to master the art of standing up on the board, with varying degrees of success.
"It's all about balance," Vince insisted after his fourth wipeout, pushing wet hair out of his eyes.
"Maybe stick to lying down for now," Jesse suggested, trying not to laugh.
"I can do this," Vince said stubbornly, positioning himself for another attempt.
"Alright, contest time," Brian declared, a playful gleam in his eyes. "Who can stand the longest on the board?" Vince had brought the second board, and they kicked off their contest. Everyone knew it would come down to Jesse and Brian, so when it was Jesse’s turn against Dom, Vince casually created a wave that sent Jesse tumbling, face-planting into the water.
He surfaced sputtering, the board floating a few feet away. "You’re cheating!" he shouted, splashing water at Vince, trying to dunk him, but it looked more like a small child trying to sink a buffalo.
"Am not. No proof. It was the wind, right, Dom?" Vince grinned.
"Sure, the wind," Dom chuckled, shaking his head.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Jesse said, swimming over to retrieve the board. "Let's see you do better."
"I’ll avenge you," Brian said, gearing up to go against Vince. Despite the little waves Dom was sending in Brian’s direction, he remained steady and won.
Vince’s board seemed to have a personal vendetta against him, and he managed to wipe out spectacularly.
"It's all about balance," Brian called out, echoing Vince's earlier advice with obvious glee.
"Smartass," Vince muttered, but he was smiling too.
That set the stage for the grand finale: Dom against Brian.
With a shared nod, they stood up on their boards. The ocean swayed beneath them, and for a moment, they both found their balance.
Dom held steady for a few seconds, but Brian was like a natural, effortlessly shifting his weight as the waves rolled in. Just as Dom began to feel confident, a bigger wave surged, and he lost his footing, tumbling into the water with a splash.
Brian burst into laughter, effortlessly balanced on the board, looking completely unfazed by the wave. "Looks like I win!" he called out, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Dom emerged from the water, and Brian, still balanced on his board, said with a hint of mischief, "Don’t worry, we won’t mention to all your fans that the legendary Dom Toretto was taken down by a piece of foam and some water."
With no warning, Dom charged toward Brian, grabbing both his legs and lifting him like a sack of potatoes.
"Dom, no!" Brian yelped, though he was laughing too hard to sound genuinely panicked. "Don’t you dare!"
Dom started spinning, and Brian clung to him, shrieking with laughter. They were both dizzy and breathless by the time Dom finally stopped, and Brian slid down to float on his back, relying on the salty water to keep him steady, his legs shaky.
"You're crazy," Brian gasped, but with his eyes closed and his face relaxed, he seemed completely at ease, soaking up the sunlight.
As the late afternoon sun glimmered on Brian's skin, Dom realized that this - Brian smiling freely and without a care - was probably his favorite thing in life.
They spent the rest of the afternoon building an elaborate sandcastle with Jesse. Mia took pictures of their progress, and Vince provided commentary that was equal parts helpful and sarcastic.
"It needs a bigger moat," Jesse declared, surveying their work critically.
"It needs turrets," Brian shot back, already molding towers with Dom's red baseball cap on his head, now dusted with sand.
"It needs to be about three feet to the left if you don’t want the tide to take it out in less than an hour," Vince pointed out, which earned him a handful of sand to the face from Brian.
Vince retaliated instantly, tackling Brian into the half-built moat. They wrestled like overgrown puppies, sending sand flying until-
"Shoot!" Brian exclaimed as Dom's cap slipped off, only to be whisked away by a gust of wind.
Dom’s heart stuttered as the vintage cap tumbled toward the waves.
Vince and Brian scrambled after it and Dom watched, torn between horror and amusement, as Brian belly-flopped into the shallows just as Vince lunged-
-and missed.
The cap bobbed merrily just out of reach.
After a few more seconds, they emerged dripping, Brian clutching the cap like a trophy. "See? Totally under control," he panted, grinning as Vince shook saltwater out of his ears.
Dom arched one judgmental eyebrow. "My hero."
Mia smirked from her towel. "At least it’s not lost."
"Yet," Jesse added, squinting at the pair. "Give them thirty more minutes."
Dom looked at Brian, stifling a smile. "Remind me why I keep you around?"
"Because you'd be bored without me, because you love me, and because your life would be missing something important without my... occasional missteps," Brian replied, flopping down onto the sand beside him.
Vince let out a snort. "He said 'occasional'. The guy's fooling himself."
"You're no better! Help me rebuild what you both wrecked," Jesse chimed in with a grin, patting the sand next to him. Vince joined, grumbling just for effect.
Brian laid his face on Dom's shoulder, his wet hair brushing against Dom's cheek as he sought forgiveness. Water droplets trickled down onto Dom, who surprisingly felt unbothered by the chill. He raised his arm and rubbed his hand up and down Brian's back, hoping to generate some warmth. Brian melted into the touch, nuzzling his face deeper into the crook of Dom's neck. "You're a handful, you know that? Good thing I don’t mind," Dom said fondly.
Brian had a dazzling smile on his face, and after a moment, he bounced back to join Jesse and Vince.
By the time they started packing up, their castle was a sprawling complex that probably violated several laws of physics but looked pretty impressive for an afternoon's work. Dom found himself taking mental pictures of Brian's proud grin as Jesse and Vince added the finishing touches, wanting to remember this moment exactly as it was.
"Grocery store?" Mia asked as they loaded their gear back into the cars.
"Definitely," Dom replied. "We're out of pretty much everything."
In the grocery store, Jesse and Vince immediately gravitated toward the electronics section, which somehow included a rack of DVDs on sale.
"Movie night?" Brian suggested, appearing at Dom's elbow with an armful of snacks.
"If we can get those two to agree on something," Dom replied, nodding toward where Jesse and Vince were having an animated debate about action movies versus comedies.
"I vote comedy," Mia called out from the produce section. "I've had enough explosions for one week."
"But this one has car chases," Vince protested, holding up what looked like a generic action thriller.
"They always have car chases," Jesse pointed out. "And they're always terrible."
Brian wandered over to browse the selection.
"How about a compromise?" Brian suggested, holding up a comedy with cars on the cover.
"I haven’t seen this one. As long as nobody dies and nothing explodes, I'm happy," Mia said, reading the back of the DVD case.
"Are there car chases?" Vince asked, peering over her shoulder. "Oh, there is! Look at that picture!"
"Now that it’s settled, I’m going to get the popcorn!" Jesse said happily, clapping his hands together. Everyone knew that was his favorite part of movie nights.
They ended up with enough snacks to supply a small army.
The next hour was devoted to their familiar pre-movie, post-beach ritual: no sand allowed in the house, showers for everyone, and preparing the snacks.
Mia and Jesse had claimed the big blanket, spreading it across the couch between them, while Vince quickly snatched the second one and settled into the recliner with a beer, his expression one of rare contentment - almost like a holiday miracle for those who knew him.
Dom took his usual spot on the smaller couch, and Brian plopped down next to him, immediately snuggling into Dom's side.
"If you’re chilly, you could grab a sweater," Dom said, amused.
"Too far, too late," Brian replied, settling more firmly against Dom's shoulder, clearly having no intention of moving. "You're warm enough."
Dom didn't mind. If he was being honest, he never minded when Brian decided to use him as a personal heating system. There was something nice about the solid weight of Brian against his side, the way Brian always seemed to fit perfectly in the space between Dom's arm and ribs.
The movie turned out to be better than expected - funny with enough heart to keep it from being completely forgettable. Jesse provided running commentary about the improbability of various scenarios, while Mia threw popcorn at the screen whenever the main character made particularly questionable choices.
"That’s impossible! The cable could never have passed; there was a pole between the two roads!" Jesse said during a particularly chaotic scene.
"It's a comedy, Jess," Brian said sleepily from where he was still tucked against Dom's side. "It's supposed to be unrealistic."
Halfway through the movie, Brian's commentary became less frequent, and Dom realized he was starting to doze. By the time the credits rolled, Brian was fully asleep, his breathing deep and even against Dom's shoulder.
"Well, that was actually pretty good," Vince said, stretching and turning off the TV
"This was way better than the explosion-fest you were hoping for, wasn’t it? Come on, admit it," Mia teased, raising her eyebrows and poking his ribs with her elbow. Jesse was busy gathering the empty popcorn bowls.
Vince grumbled but didn’t argue.
Dom looked down at Brian, his face peaceful in sleep.
"Brian," Dom said softly, giving him a gentle shake. "Movie's over."
Brian stirred but didn't open his eyes, just made a small sound of protest and snuggled closer.
"Come on," Dom tried again, affectionately combing his fingers through his hair. "Time for bed."
This time Brian's eyes fluttered open, unfocused and heavy with sleep. He looked up at Dom with that same adorable, confused expression from the morning, and Dom felt a warm flutter in his chest.
"Movie over?" Brian mumbled.
"Yeah, it's over," Dom said gently. "You missed the ending."
Brian made a face like this was a personal tragedy, then looked at Dom with the kind of pitiful puppy-dog eyes and the tiniest pout that should have been illegal.
"Too comfortable to move," Brian said, his voice still thick with sleep.
Dom chuckled, recognizing the look. "You’re spoiled, you know that? You’re not as young as you used to be. If we stay here, we’ll just end up with back pain and cricks in our necks."
Brian's only response was to nuzzle closer, making it clear he had no intention of getting up under his own power.
Dom sighed fondly, and shifted to lift Brian into his arms. Brian automatically wrapped his arms around Dom's neck and his legs around Dom's waist, letting Dom carry him with the kind of trusting compliance that came from being mostly asleep. Dom had done this before - Brian had a tendency to fall asleep on the couch and turn into dead weight when it came time to move.
Yet it never stopped being endearing.
By the time they reached Brian's room, Brian was practically asleep again. The room was dark and quiet, the sheets still rumpled from the morning.
Dom set Brian down gently on his bed, and Brian immediately curled up on his side, already reaching for his pillow. Dom knelt down and carefully pulled off Brian's socks - he'd learned months ago that Brian couldn't sleep with socks on, something about his feet getting too hot and waking him up.
Dom pulled the sheet up to Brian's shoulders, then leaned down to press a gentle kiss to Brian's temple.
"Sweet dreams, Bri," he murmured.
"Swee’ drea’," Brian mumbled back, his voice barely audible as he settled into the mattress.
Dom stood there for a moment, watching Brian sleep. There was something about Brian’s unguardedness that stirred a protective, tender, and utterly devoted feeling within Dom all at once.
He turned off the light and headed for his own room.
Three hours later, Dom woke to the sound of something crashing in the house.
It was past midnight, the kind of deep quiet that usually meant everyone was dead asleep. Dom's first thought was that Jesse had knocked something over in the kitchen - the kid had a tendency to wander around at night and eat some snacks when he couldn't sleep.
But then he heard Brian shout "DOM!", followed by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle, and every peaceful thought evaporated.
Dom was out of bed and running before he was fully awake, his heart hammering as he charged toward Brian's room.
He could hear a fight - the crash of something hitting the floor, Brian's voice raised in alarm, and underneath it all, the voice of a stranger, harsh with panic and desperation.
:::
A few minutes before
Franck stood in Brian's darkened bedroom, his heart pounding so hard he was sure the sound would wake the entire house. This was insane.
Brian was sleeping peacefully, completely unaware that a stranger was rummaging through his belongings. Franck had already searched the dresser and desk, moving as quietly as possible, but the car keys were nowhere to be found.
Desperation was creeping in. The longer he stayed, the higher the chance of getting caught, but he couldn’t leave empty-handed. That car was the last thing he had from his father, and he’d been foolish enough to put it up as collateral in a race he should have known he couldn’t win.
He moved toward the nightstand, hoping the keys might be there. As he reached for the drawer, his elbow knocked into a lamp. He lunged forward to catch it before it could crash to the floor, but his fingers closed around empty air. The lamp hit the ground with a loud crash, shattering the ceramic base.
On the bed, Brian stirred.
Franck froze, praying that Brian would just roll over and go back to sleep. But Brian's eyes opened, focusing on the stranger in his room, and Franck saw the moment confusion turned to alarm.
"What the hell-" Brian started, but Franck was already on the move.
He grabbed the first thing he could reach - a heavy bookend from Brian's shelf - and swung it just as Brian launched himself from the bed, panicking. The makeshift weapon caught Brian across the forearm as he tried to block it, and he cried out in pain but didn’t stop.
"DOM!" Brian yelled, tackling Franck around the waist and sending them both crashing into the shelf, a few books and car figures tumbling down.
Franck's panic escalated. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He shoved Brian away and tried to make a break for the door, but Brian was already recovering, reaching for him.
"Get back here!" Brian shouted, tackling Franck around the legs, and both of them went down hard. Franck kicked and struggled, trying to shake off Brian’s grip.
"Just tell me where the keys are, and I’ll leave!"
:::
The door was open, and in the dim light spilling from the hallway, Dom could see two figures struggling on the floor.
"Brian!" Dom shouted, moving forward to help when he saw the intruder reach into his jacket and pull out something that made Dom's entire world stop.
A gun.
The stranger was pointing a pistol at Brian, forcing him to back away. Brian was now on his knees, one hand pressed to his arm, where it looked like he had been hit.
"Don't move!" the man gasped at Dom, keeping the gun trained on Brian. "Stay back, or I’ll shoot him! Just - nobody move!"
Dom froze, hands raised, every muscle coiled with the urge to protect Brian. Despite the darkness, his instincts told him the gun was real. "Easy," he said, keeping his voice steady despite the terror racing through his veins. "Nobody needs to get hurt here."
The man scrambled to his feet, the gun shaking in his hands - he was terrified and desperate, which made him unpredictable.
"I just want my car," the man said, his voice trembling slightly. "The keys to my car. That's all."
Dom could see it all clicking into place - this was the guy from the race, the one who'd lost his car to Brian, which was why this face felt somewhat familiar.
"Okay," Dom said carefully, trying to draw the attention to himself. If a gun was supposed to aim at someone, it should be him, never Brian. "We can work something out. Just put the gun down."
Brian was slowly getting to his feet, his eyes locked on the gunman with the kind of fierce determination that usually meant he was about to do something stupid.
"Brian," Dom said quietly. "Just stay calm. I’ll handle it."
Brian didn’t answer, but Dom could see the tension in his shoulders, and the second the gunman's attention shifted back to Dom, Brian launched himself forward with the same recklessness that made him such a good racer and such a constant source of worry. The gun went off with a deafening crack, and Dom watched in horror as both Brian and the intruder crashed to the floor.
"Brian!" Dom roared, his heart stopping completely as he watched them fall.
For an unbearable second that felt like an eternity, the world around him crumbled as they both lay completely still.
Until Brian started to move, slowly pushing himself into a sitting position. "I’m okay," he said, his voice strained.
The others were awake now - Dom could hear doors slamming and footsteps running down the hall.
Dom crossed the room in two steps, grabbing the gunman and hauling him away from Brian with enough force to send him crashing into the wall. The gun clattered across the floor, and suddenly Vince was there, kicking it out of reach while Mia and Jesse crowded around.
But Dom could see the blood seeping through Brian's t-shirt, could see the way Brian was favoring his left side, and the fear that had been driving him transformed into something much more dangerous.
Brian noticed his concern and quickly repeated, "I'm okay, Dom. The bullet just grazed me."
Dom dropped to his knees beside him, hands shaking as he assessed the damage. "Are you sure?" he asked urgently.
"Yes," Brian confirmed. "Dom, I'm fine. Look at me - I'm fine."
"Let me see," Dom said, carefully lifting the edge of Brian's shirt. Brian hadn’t lied; Dom could see his ribs where the bullet had barely missed. It was bleeding, but wasn’t life-threatening.
"We need to get this cleaned up," Dom said, helping Brian to his feet.
Vince pulled the gunman to his feet with a firm grip, ensuring he wouldn’t get away this time. Jesse, still barely awake, glanced around and quickly emptied the gun, just to be safe. Meanwhile, Mia busied herself in Brian’s room, trying to restore some semblance of order, carefully clearing away the shattered pieces of the broken lamp.
"Come on," Dom said, slipping an arm around Brian's waist.
"I'm really okay," Brian protested, but Dom ignored him, and they made their way to the bathroom.
Dom turned on the bathroom light, and sat Brian down on the closed toilet seat and started gathering first aid supplies, his hands shaking a bit as he pulled out antiseptic and bandages. He could feel the weight of what had almost happened pressing down on him.
"You could have been killed," Dom said, his voice rougher than he intended.
"I’m sorry," Brian said quietly. "I know you told me not to do anything…"
Dom wet a washcloth, knelt down, and began carefully cleaning the blood away from the graze on Brian's ribs, his touch gentle but efficient.
"When I saw that gun pointed at you," Dom said quietly, not looking up from his work, "I thought... God, Brian, I thought I was going to lose you."
Brian caught Dom's wrist gently, making him look up. "Hey. I'm okay."
Dom met Brian's eyes and saw nothing but calm certainty there. No fear, no regret.
"You can't do that again," Dom said fiercely. "You can't just throw yourself at armed guys like that. Promise me."
Brian was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't promise that."
"Brian-"
"He could have aimed it at you at any moment. If someone is threatening you or our family, I’ll do whatever it takes to stop them," Brian said calmly. "Just like you would. Just like you were about to do when you saw that gun."
Dom wanted to argue, wanted to make Brian understand that the thought of losing him was unbearable, but he could see the determination in Brian's eyes. The same fierce protectiveness that Dom felt for all of them.
"I'd rather die than see you get hurt," Dom said quietly.
Brian's expression softened, and he reached up to cup Dom's face, running his thumb across his cheekbone. "I know… That's exactly how I feel about you."
Dom caught Brian's hand in his, holding it against his cheek. "If something had happened to you..."
"Hey," Brian said softly, leaning forward until their foreheads were touching. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
They stayed like that for a long moment, breathing the same air, eyes closed, until Dom leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to the corner of Brian's mouth - soft, careful, and full of everything he’d been feeling, overflowing with relief that Brian was okay.
When he pulled back, it was only by inches, and Brian looked at him with that soft smile - no shock, no surprise.
Brian was the one who moved closer this time, and their lips met in a gentle press that felt as right and natural as all the easy affection they’d shared.
Dom cupped the back of Brian's neck as he rested his head against his shoulder. Brian's skin was warm, and Dom felt like he could stay there forever - if not for the sounds outside and the smell of blood, reminding him that, even though Brian was safe, things could have turned out very differently. After a few moments, he pressed a trail of gentle kisses along the curve of Brian’s neck, making him squirm and chuckle before reluctantly pulling away.
He finished patching up Brian’s injuries, who let him work without protest, even though Dom was being overly careful for such minor wounds.
When they finally emerged from the bathroom, Vince was waiting in the hallway.
"What happened to our unwanted guest?" Dom asked.
"Had a very educational conversation with him," Vince replied. "Turns out he’s not really a criminal type - it was his dad’s car. His dad passed away six months ago, and he had debts. He couldn’t bring himself to sell the car because he still loved his dad, so he thought he could use it to win. He definitely underestimated our Brian here. But he won’t be bothering us again."
Dom felt a flicker of sympathy, but it was tempered by the memory of Brian bleeding and how close they had come to something unthinkable.
"Plus, we couldn’t exactly call the cops without raising some awkward questions about how we ended up with his car in the first place," Mia added as she joined them.
That was true.
But at least it meant everything was finally over. Brian leaned into Dom’s side, and Dom wrapped his arm gently around his waist, burying his nose in Brian’s hair.
Mia smiled as she watched them. Not much had changed, and not much would, but after years of seeing them together, the protective instincts, the way they seemed to orbit each other without conscious thought, she knew they had stopped pretending that life without each other was possible."I heard that life-threatening situations always help," she said with a satisfied grin.
Jesse popped up from behind Mia. "I call dibs on being one of the best man!" he said cheerfully.
"Wait, they weren’t already married?" Vince asked, pretending to be shocked. "Could’ve fooled me."
Brian laughed, and Dom kissed the top of his head. "Alright, alright, no teasing," Brian said. "I guess we kinda were. But now we’re making it official. And it has to happen on the beach. I don’t want to wear a tuxedo; I want-"
Dom frowned. "I swear, if you say you want to wear board shorts-"
"You’ll agree, right?" Brian said, giving him those devastating pleading eyes and batting his lashes innocently.
"Yup, marriage on the beach it is," Vince said with a grin.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Dom sighed, but his smile was too fond for anyone to miss, especially as he took Brian’s hand and pressed a tender kiss to his knuckles.
Brian shifted, nestling into Dom's embrace. Dom was careful not to brush against his wound, wrapping his arms around him protectively. "What I really want to know is, how did I get so lucky to deserve you?" Brian asked softly, his eyes shining with affection.
"Oh God, you were already sappy before. Is it going to get worse now?" Vince grumbled. "I’m going to check the door security."
"After what happened, he’s definitely going to be one of those overprotective boyfriends who never takes his eyes off Brian…" Jesse whispered to Mia.
"And it’s going to drive them both crazy. Brian will still act recklessly, worrying Dom to death, while Dom will turn into a mother hen, and Brian will hate feeling underestimated," Mia added, trying to be discreet too.
"… Well, isn’t that already how it is? They were practically attached at the hip..."
Mia pondered for a moment. "Yeah, that’s true."
Dom shook his head, and Brian chuckled, both pretending they weren’t listening.
"Not leaving you out of my sight starts now, by the way. There’s no way I’m letting you go back to that room," Dom said, glaring at the bedroom door as if it had personally offended him.
"Yeah, I know it’s safe, but I don’t think I would have been able to fall back asleep…" Brian replied, his tone serious enough for Dom to realize that, despite Brian’s calm demeanor, the events of the night had unsettled him a bit.
They exchanged their goodnights.
In Dom's room, they settled into bed - Brian curled up against Dom's chest, careful of his bandaged ribs, while Dom wrapped his arms around him.
Dom pressed a kiss to the top of Brian's head, and Brian hummed contentedly and settled deeper into Dom's arms.
This was what had been just out of reach all this time - the certainty that Brian was his and he was Brian's, that there would be no more wondering if Brian might find someone else or one day leave them. Leave him.
Within minutes, Brian’s breathing had evened out, asleep.
Dom stayed awake a little longer, just holding Brian and reflecting on how close he had come to losing him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last. But right now, they were safe, whole, and together - and that was all that mattered.
Dom closed his eyes and let himself drift off.
:::
END