"Do it then. Get a map without any labels, and point to me."

Wyoming didn't mean for it to come out so harsh, this was really his first interaction with the fed outside of meetings. But DC clearly wanted something, and all Wyoming wanted to do was be left alone with his book.

Clearly everyone in the house learned this fact, except for DC.

The western state hated the twisted confusion on DC's face, how his eyes were wide and brown, and he stammered, fidgeting with his tie. He could remember one of DC's boyfriends constantly forcing him to stop that during meetings, how he was worried it'd choke him. And without New York around, DC was getting dangerously close to his neck.

"Hey stop that." Wyoming scolded. DC froze, staring at the western state in shock. Wyoming rolled his eyes and closed his book, if the fed strangled himself in the middle of the living room Texas would murder him.

"You're over-straightening your tie, stop that. I know New York tells you that all the time." Wyoming ordered. DC swallowed hard and dropped his hands, beginning to snap his fingers on the top of his thighs, clearly still spooked. Wyoming cursed the part of his brain that found this cute, there was nothing cute about the fed.

"I-I'm sorry....I've just been so stressed." DC explained, clearly a lie since the fed was always stressed. But the man had clearly been stressed more since the election, his gaunt appearance and deep bags under his eyes proof that he wasn't taking care of himself.

God shut up brain, the fed wasn't cute.

"Look, it was my turn to cook tonight. I have leftover chili, do you want some?" Wyoming asked.

"I-I....I should really get back to work." DC mumbled. His eyes kept catching the light of the living room, and Wyoming could see the little specks of gold in them.

"No. No, your family and boyfriends are always hammering you about eating. You're eating." Wyoming ordered standing up. He handed DC the book which the fed took with shaking hands and moved to the kitchen to find the leftovers. Why was his heart pounding so much? This was DC! A stupid fed! He shouldn't find him attractive, especially because he had five other boyfriends. No this was just guilt is all, pure guilt. He quickly scooped the leftovers and dumped them in a bowl, putting it into the microwave and nuking it for two minutes before taking it out and returning back to the living room. He was surprised to find DC reading his book, looking over the words in wonder, looking extra cu-NO.

"Wyoming, this is fascinating." DC whispered looking up at the state. "I didn't know you were so into classic literature."

"Well it gets lonely on the ranch." Wyoming said curtly, hating the blush spreading on his face. He shoved the bowl into DC's chest, making him drop the book. "Eat."

"Wyoming I can't....I have work to do...."

"No. You're staying here and eating because if I have to hear Cali bitch one more time about you not eating--" Wyoming stopped at the sad look in DC's eyes, knowing he just insulted one of the fed's boyfriends. He shook his head.

"Look. Eat. You need it." Wyoming ordered going back to his chair. DC looked down at the bowl then back at Wyoming who hadn't gone back to his book and instead was staring intently at DC waiting for him to start eating. DC blushed and picked up the fork, beginning to eat slowly at first but then ravenously as the taste hit his tongue. Wyoming watched him eat in shock, he ate like a starving man, how long did he deprive himself of food just to get work done? In no time at all, DC finished the bowl slumping back in his chair, the sauce all over his face, humming contently. Wyoming's breath hitched, he looked so cute, so content. He just wanted to sit on his lap and kiss his face clean and snuggle into his shoulder and....

WHAT THE HELL BRAIN?

Wyoming shook the thoughts from his brain and stood up, approaching the chair. "You good?"

"Wy....that was good..." DC said dazed grinning up at Wyoming. Wyoming felt his heart stop again, damn this fed.

"Well....good. I'm....glad." Wyoming muttered, taking the bowl back. It was like he was drunk, maybe Cali had a reason to constantly complain about DC's eating if DC reacted like this when he ate. DC yawned and snuggled into the chair pillows, and Wyoming felt the heat on his cheeks rise again.

"If you wanna sleep, you'd do better in your bed. The chair isn't comfy." Wyoming pointed out, setting the bowl on the side table.

"Yeah....yeah maybe I should." DC muttered. He slowly stood up, losing his balance a little making Wyoming catch him. Being able to touch DC made Wyoming's hands and arms feel like they were on fire and his heart beat faster.

"Sorry...." DC mumbled looking up at Wyoming, eyes hazy. Wyoming bit his lip, he hated this.

"C'mon, I'll bring you to your bed." Wyoming mumbled taking DC to his bedroom. He was surprised entering the room at how neat it was, how the bed looked similar to a hotel bed with the way it was made, the horrifying thought in the back of his mind of how often DC slept in his room. Wyoming shook the thought from his brain, not his boyfriend, not his problem and led the fed to his bed. He gently let DC drop and the fed instantly curled up on himself, making Wyoming's heart drop.

"Alright well, have a pleasant nap..." Wyoming muttered, turning on his heel about to leave the room.

"Wait." A soft voice called and Wyoming turned around.

"Can you stay? For a few? At least until one of my boyfriends gets home?" DC begged and his voice sounded so shaky that it broke Wyoming's heart. Wyoming nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, watching as DC's eyes closed and he slowly fell asleep. The western state stared at the fed's face, watching it slowly relax and settle before gently snoring. Wyoming didn't know what overcame him, but he slowly reached over and began running his hands through DC's hair, making the fed smile and nuzzle his face into the comforter.

Wyoming didn't leave his side until Texas and Louisiana came home.