Free Endless, Forever by E.M. Lindsey

fingers and toes.  He could tell Gabe wanted him, the heat in their kisses growing in intensity every time they saw each other, but they were trying to be responsible.  To take it slow.  To learn each other.
    Just as Oliver finished one section of his paper, he heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see Leo wandering into the kitchen.  His brother was dressed in tight, shiny yoga pants and a loose, tunic-like blouse.  His hair was pulled into an intricate knot on the back of his head, and he was wearing a smear of gold shadow over his eyelids.
    “I thought you were staying in,” Oliver said.
    Leo looked down at himself, then rolled his eyes.  “I am.  Well, until Mikey gets here.  It’s not a crime to want to look pretty, you know.”
    Oliver snorted.  “As you like it.”  He glanced at his last sentence, deleted a few words, but his head wasn’t in it anymore.  Leaning on his elbow, he turned back to his brother.  “Leo, are you trans?”
    Leo, who had a glass of juice halfway to his mouth, froze.  “Er, yes, I am.  Why?”
    “You’ve never really explained it,” Oliver replied with a shrug.  “Haven’t really said much after joining your group, and I was wondering.  Am I misgendering you?  I call you my brother , and I call you Leo, and if it’s wrong, just tell me.”
    Leo’s face softened, and he turned, leaning against the counter.  “It took me a while to sort it out.  Even now, I’m not entirely sure how I define myself.  I keep reading more and more about being genderqueer, and there’s just so sodding much.  But I’m comfortable with my name, and I’m alright if you call me your brother.”
    Oliver relaxed a little, then nodded.  “Alright.  But, if it changes just…just say something, alright?  You know I just want you to be happy.  I just want you to be you .”
    Leo chuckled fondly.  “Yeah, I know.  Anyway you should go get ready.  Shower.  I’m pretty sure that smell is coming from you.”
    “Oy!”  Oliver lifted his arm to sniff himself.  “I smell like a fucking field of roses, you absolute twat.”
    “Only because you’re used to the stink.  You’re never going to get laid like that, you know.”
    “I hate you,” Oliver grumbled.  But he went upstairs anyway, and busied himself with getting washed and fresh for the night.
    By the time he was done, wearing loose jogging pants and a tight black t-shirt, Gabe had arrived and was talking with Leo and Coco at the kitchen counter.  Beers were already cracked, and one of the pizza boxes open.
    Oliver let out an affronted gasp.  “You started without me?”
    “No one’s fault but yours, mate.  I didn’t think it was going to take you two hours,” Leo said, shaking his head back and forth.  “Also, how is it you can spend so much time in there and come down still looking like that ?”
    “You are so rude.  How are we related?” Oliver complained as he slid up next to Gabriel.  He leaned over to nuzzle his boyfriend, reveling in the heavy smell of espresso.  “Mm, delicious,” he muttered into Gabe’s ear.
    Blushing just a little, Gabriel reached up to cup Oliver’s cheek and pull him in close.  “I think you look very nice.”
    “He’s biased,” Leo said.
    “So what if I am?” Gabriel gave Leo a winning smile before Coco announced they should take everything into the living room and start the movie.  The three deferred to Coco who put on something with subtitles, a romance, but they were talking and laughing, paying no attention to the plot.
    By the time Mike arrived to take Leo, Oliver was a little buzzed and surprisingly relaxed about his brother spending an entire weekend away from him.  He got up though, to hug him goodbye, and held him tight for a second.
    “Be careful.  Please.”
    Leo huffed, but squeezed Oliver’s shoulder fondly.  “I will.  And you know you’ll get a text if anything comes up.”
    “Just don’t let it,” Oliver stressed, then gave his