Dario Romano, also known as Beast, is a hardened police officer and volunteer firefighter. The last thing he expected while on a crime scene is for a nineteen-year-old homeless boy with wild hair and owl eyes to take his hand.
#1 - bl | January 27...
When we get back to the table, Jackson offers Ciel a seat beside him.
"Thanks," Ciel says, sliding into the booth. "Dario is being weird."
I grit my teeth and refrain from replying.
But as the conversation winds on, Ciel's anger dies down. He grows bored because we're talking about work, and he starts falling asleep.
"Here, let me take him," I offer when the boy starts slipping down his seat. Jackson passes him into my waiting arms and I lean him against me like a rag doll, letting his head loll on my shoulder. He doesn't hate me so much when he's sleepy.
"Gay," Preston reminds the table at large.
I wake Ciel up when his dessert comes and he's instantly bright-eyed and alert with excitement.
When he's finished his chocolate mousse, I feed Ciel off my plate too, gently thumbing the residue from his mouth.
"Hey, Dari, can you please feed us some chocolate too," Reagan and Ken snicker pretty much in unison.
I ignore them in favour of watching Ciel sigh contently.
The gifts are great. They all pitched in to order me a drone, which is awesome.
On top of that is the sweetest, handmade card ever, from Ciel. He clearly erased Dadi before he got the right spelling. I can't tell if spelling is just not his strong-suit or that's just how kids these days write it.
"Are you full?" I ask as I wipe Ciel's mouth with a napkin. Ciel nods, cupping his tummy bulge.
"I'm getting fat," he declares.
"That's okay, Ciel," I reassure him kindly. "More for me to squish at night." I give him a wink.
Preston chokes on his drink, as I hoped he would.
"Um, okay, well, as I've said two or three times before, that's pretty gay."
•••
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I've got organic eggs, skim milk, sausage links, grated cheese, green bell pepper, onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper all rounded up for a dinner casserole. 160 delicious grams of protein that I know Ciel will love.
He comes home from his shift at the café looking very excited. Apparently a cute face tips well. He brings me his wages, in cash because he doesn't have a bank account.
![The Boy [mxb]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/207862938-64-k981356.jpg)