Page 53 of The Jorogumo

Smiling, sheepishly, he sighed. "See, in the gay community, there are a few labels, stereotypes, whatever. People who look like me, they're called bears. And people who look like the guy who was hitting on me are called twinks."

"Why would you need a label specifically for your looks?" I asked, confused, and he smiled.

"It's a human thing, Haruto. People have certain types, you know. Some like bears, others like twinks, and so on."

I could understand that, even if I couldn't relate. For me, interest was always based on personality, though that didn't mean I couldn't appreciate a good-looking person. I only had eyes for one good-looking man now.

"Okay, and you don't like being seen as a bear?"

Liam frowned, then shook his head. "It's not that part I have a problem with. It's the expectations behind the label. People expect bears to be the more dominant of the partners, or the top."

"And you're not," I concluded easily, smiling in sympathy. "You don't like being hit on by twinks because it makes you think about how others see you."

"I...yeah," he said, shooting me a look. "That's pretty much it. Not that I want to be hit on by anyone at all. I love you, and I'm not looking for anyone else. It just reminded me that people will always assume things about our relationship when they see us together."

"Except in the Sanctuary," I reminded him, and finally, finally he smiled.

"That's true. No one at the Sanctuary has ever been intimidated by me. Not even the humans."

"Because they can tell you're a sweetheart," I said with a shrug, and he chuckled, his cheeks turning pink.

"Sorry I cut our visit short," he said after a few minutes of walking in silence, and I waved him off.

"The music was starting to get to me. You think it was loud? Try listening to it with supe hearing." I shuddered in remembrance, and he gave me a sympathetic look. While I could block out most of the noise, it still put a strain on my ears. "I did meet a dragon, though."

Liam blinked, then shook his head. "Wait, did you saydragon? Like big, scaly, breathes fire?"

"Yep, the bartender, Nolan. Though I'm not certain he's a fire dragon."

Liam's eyes went wide as saucers. "The guy with the lip piercings?" I nodded, and Liam shook his head again. "Wow. A fucking dragon." Then he snorted. "The Lair. Makes perfect sense now."

"I believe it was his way of welcoming supes into the place," I mused, and Liam nodded.

"We should tell the others. I'm sure they'd like to have a supe-friendly club to go to."

"Yes. I will tell the others. Especially the headmaster." Our headmaster was always looking for new supes to 'network' with, so that any supe who needed a safe place could get in touch with him.

Liam hummed, and we turned around on the next street to head toward the Sanctuary.

"Will you stay the night?" I asked, glancing over at him, and he pursed his lips in thought before nodding.

"I think I'm a little drunk," he said, then promptly gave a hiccup.

He'd only had the one whiskey, so it made me smile to see what a lightweight he was. It was cute. Everything about Liam was.

"Well, once we get home, you can sleep it off."

Liam blinked at me owlishly, then smiled widely. "Home. I like that."

My breath caught in my chest. Did he mean that the way I thought he did?

"Yeah? What do you like about it?"

"Everything. I wish it was my home too." He mumbled the last part, as if not intending for me to hear.

Did that mean he'd be open to the idea of moving in with me?

Neither of us said anything as we finally reached the Sanctuary, and I opened the door, letting us in.

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