Battle It Out

slumping back into his chair.
“Are you going to keep going over there?”
“Yeah,” he croaked.
“Good.” Doc smiled at him.
He supposed that was progress. He hadn’t even considered driving to his mother’s house before seeing Doc. Now he made a point to park outside a few times during the week. Maybe one day, he’d go inside. Maybe not.
“So?” He held his breath.
“Are you comfortable with going back?” Doc closed his file and tapped his fingers on the binder.
“I’m a Special Forces soldier of a top-secret unit. I face crazy every single day.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Yeah, Doc, I’m comfortable.” He smirked.
“I’m going to fully sign off on one condition.”
“What’s that?” His heart thumped.
“There are things you still need to deal with, and I want you to come back and see me once a month.”
“I can do that.” He smiled.
“All right then.”
“Thanks Doc. You’re the best.”
Doc huffed a laugh and waved him out of the office.
He opened the door and found Infinity’s medic, Ethan Caufield, with his fist raised to rap on the door.
“He’s all yours.”
Ethan rolled his eyes and stepped around him.
“Got a minute?” the medic asked the doc.
“Of course,” Doc said and then called out, “Report to Colonel Cobalt, Isaac!”
“Will do.” Isaac closed the door and walked down the hallway, his smile growing.
His phone buzzed. It was the twentieth text from Royce in a matter of a few hours. He’d talked to the guy after his party and had ended their relationship, but the man was persistent. Swiping his finger, he blocked Royce’s number and forgot about him in the next second.
Because he had other things on his mind.
Hell fucking yes!
I’m back!

Zane
“Diesel, Triton!”
From the front of the terminal entrance, he waved at the pair coming through the massive revolving doors of the Los Angeles International airport.
Even through the crush of bodies and the loud hum of noise, Diesel heard him.
The big man’s head swiveled around and a grin split his face. One of his brother’s hands held a suitcase, the other held the hand of the blond man at his side.
“Hey, baby brother,” Diesel said, dropping both the hand and suitcase to drag him into a tight hug.
“Hey, you guys.” He gripped his brother tight and then reached with his free hand to pull Triton Scott to them. He crushed them both close for a long moment before pulling back. “How long are you staying?”
“For the week!” Triton said, clapping his hands. “We’re supposed to meet with the adoption agency the day after tomorrow.”
Diesel gazed fondly down at Triton before curling an arm around the smaller man’s waist and grabbing the suitcase handle. It was amazing to see his big, gruff, older brother being so gentle. The pair had met through Triton’s cousin, Captain Maddox Stone. Their path to love had been long and hard, but the happiness reflecting on their faces told him the road had been worth it.
“Perfect. We don’t have anything on the books at the moment, so dinner tonight?”
“I could eat,” Diesel said, patting his stomach.
“Great.” He grinned. “There’s a restaurant inside your hotel. I’ll drop you off so you can get settled and meet you there at six?”
“Sounds perfect,” Triton agreed.
“So, tell me about this adoption opportunity,” he said as he pulled away from the airport parking lot and took the freeway that would dump them off on Broadway.
“It’s twins!” Triton launched into details, happily monopolizing the conversation. He’d never seen his brother’s boyfriend so excited or so talkative. Not that he minded. Happiness was new to Triton, and Zane was thrilled his brother had finally taken the plunge to love again.
Now, if he could only get his own love life figured out. There was no escaping Isaac’s face sweeping through his mind. Not the face of some unknown woman.
He tightly curled his cold fingers around the steering wheel. Damn it.
“This is the exit,” Diesel said.
“What?” He blinked, glancing at the sign. Yep, he’d missed the exit. “I’ll take the next one, the hotel takes up the block.”
He put on his blinker and ignored Diesel’s frown.
“I can’t eat another bite,” Triton said, pushing his plate away. Diesel glanced at the half-eaten steak and forked it over to his own plate.
Zane reached across and lifted the remaining fries from Triton’s plate. He grinned when Diesel gave him the evil eye.
“Snooze you lose. Gotta be quicker, old man.”
Triton giggled and stood. Bending down, he kissed Diesel on the cheek.
“You’re not old,” Triton whispered to Diesel, who turned his head and caught the younger man’s lips in a firm kiss.
“You’re sweet,” Diesel rumbled.
Triton sent him a scolding look. “Don’t call him old.”
Zane held up his hands, laughing.
“Hey, I’m the baby brother. I get to call him names.”
Triton rolled his eyes. “I’m heading up.” He placed a hand on Diesel’s shoulder. “I’ll fill out the rest of that paperwork; you stay and visit with your trouble-making brother.”
“Night, Triton,” he said when after kissing Diesel, the small blond came around the table and dropped a peck on his cheek.
Diesel watched Triton until the man disappeared into the elevator. Then, with a happy sigh, his brother turned around and settled back in his chair.
A dish clattered from behind the kitchen doorway. A finished oak bar ran the length of the room. Utensils clanked against plates along with the hum of conversation. The restaurant was known for its prime rib cut and seared meat and spices drifted through the room. Overhead, piano music floated, piped in through small, round speakers. White cloths covered each tabletop and, in the middle, sat red glowing candles.
“You’re not, you know,” he murmured, studying the flickering flame.
“Not what?”
“Old.” He gave his brother a smile.
Diesel snorted, but a small smile played at the corner of his mouth.
“Happy?”
“Hell yeah,” Diesel said. “More than I ever believed possible.”
“I’m so glad.”
“Congrats on the promotion. My little brother, Master Sergeant.”
“You left some big shoes to fill.”
“You’ll fill them,” Diesel said firmly.
“I’ll try.” He picked at a fry, poked it in ketchup and