Of course his dazzling partners weren't ready for the damn dinner, they were all smoke shows and bombshells so it made sense they'd take so fucking long.

They were going to the most prestigious and delicious restaurant in the area. They couldn't even just get in; they had to be famous or know someone on the inside to even dream of a table.

The date was Alex's doing, claiming he wanted to go out together and treat them to something special. It was so sweet, but none of them were ready in time and that's how Adam ended up in a tux sipping on some shit he was certain most people had never heard of looking fine.

Today his dysphoria was dashed to pieces, not a single person had misgendered him and he was even directed to the men's room when he wanted to check himself out again.

Confidence was oozing off of him, and he couldn't wait to be surrounded by the people he loved the most. To see all of them dolled up would make him even happier to see them happy.

Sitting alone became a problem quickly even if he was saving the table, and not for the reason he'd thought.

A group of girls and guys, around six, passed by him chatting until one of them went, "My, he's a handsome one."

Adam's eyes cautiously flickered up to them and he chuckled. "Thank you."

He should learn his lesson about talking to people one of these times. As hard as he tried to put off a "Do not perceive me, do not approach me, do not talk to me" vibe, people really seemed to think he was just open for business.

He was not.

They, without asking, took the spots at the table and a taller mixed guy took him in. "No way you're eating here by yourself. What's your name?"

"Adam," He replied as casually as possible. He didn't want these people to think he was interested in any way. "And I'm just waiting for the rest of us to get here."

A blonde girl tipped her head at him and looked him over openly. "How old are you?"

"26, I just had my birthday last month." The memory made him smirk into his glass. The damn polycule thought they were all little comedians. They had an early morning celebration with black cake and black roses and ice cream, but told him he'd be getting presents later.

Then they all disappeared.

One by one, two by two they'd hid and when he was least expecting it, they snatched him to fuck the living hell out of him and then sent him on his way with a present and after care. It was like that all day, and it was a really, really, really good birthday.

A slender woman with gorgeous earthy tone to her smiled back at him. "Looks like it was a really good birthday. I'll bet you're a woman eater."

"He looks like one, too," A guy who looked exactly like Clark Kent observed. "That sucks so bad for bisexual men that ones like these are just walking around on the streets only into women."

Adam felt an odd surge of smugness as he sipped at his wine. "I'm homoflexible, or very gay with a touch of straight for the right person."

"I can totally make that work!" The mixed kid chuckled.

"You couldn't," Adam corrected as his eyes raised. His heart started to pound, he broke into a sweat.

"Why not?"

Adam pointed as a fully conceited grin overtook him. "Because that's what you're competing with."

It couldn't even be called a competition, that'd be unfair to the group of cuties in front of Adam that didn't hold a fucking match let alone a candle to the team of smoking hot and elegant ladies and gentlemen surging toward him.

They walked in like they owned the very city the restaurant resided in with clear looks of annoyance and possessiveness on their faces.

The message was very clear: Adam was theirs. All theirs, dammit. And how dare anyone even entertain the idea of flirting with him? They'd earned his trust and adoration the hard way, these chumps didn't know what they'd been through together.

Steven stopped in front of the table and the rest of them fanned around it to stare down at the group. He looked so fucking annoyed but then a smile lifted his face. "I know he's hot but I'm gonna have to ask you to move along."

Hazel dipped down to kiss Adam rather territorially, and then Anna did the same, then Jacob right after. Adam basked in it, he couldn't remember a time when they'd all come together like this on behalf of jealousy and he felt so loved it was all he could do not to break his rules and start swooning and blushing like an idiot in public.

The blonde girl pouted. "Damn it! He's already got partners!"

Connie giggled and pointed at the seat he was in. "Many partners. More than enough. Did you think a man that hot was really single?"

Jasmin stared at Adam. "Did he tell you that? Did he tell you he was single?"

"Nope, he was mysterious and cold the whole time." Clark Kent Lookalike sighed wistfully. "We needed a goth boy."

"Welp, ya can't have this one!" Anna chirped, then turning to him. "Daddy, can I sit on your lap? I'm jealous."

"Aw, you don't need to be babygirl," Adam teased as they started to get up and leave awkwardly. "Of course you can sit on my lap."

Steven scowled as they left. "No more sending Adam out by himself. They were gonna snatch our Universal."

Universal? Like the cord? Or like, everything?

Jasmin matched his expression and crossed her arms. "And they were hot too so now we gotta be extra diligent. The hotties are the biggest problem."

"I agree but none of them have freckles," Jacob boasted. "I happen to have a weakness of his they don't." He took a drink of Adam's and sighed nervously. "But just in case... don't send him out anymore."

Adam poured Anna another glass of wine and tapped her hip. "You know, I think that's the first time I didn't get really freaked out with a bunch of new people."

He couldn't help his laughter; that pissed them off further.

"So they were close to snatching him," Alex seethed at his silverware. "Should I just go over there and—?" He picked up the knife.  Jasmin said yes at the same time everyone else said no and he rolled his eyes. "Well, you just say the word and I will. He's ours."

"Aw, what am I? A prize winning cow?" Adam murmured coyly. "Are you just milking me for hottie credits or what?"

"You spend more time milking me than I do you," Jacob lied as he spread butter on a piece of bread for Jasmin. "And we all blew those flimsy cuties out of the water because we have worked so fucking hard to get this hot and to have this man love us so they can suck my dick."

Connie reached over to pat his back. "You frustrated, baby?"

He nodded. "Uh huh. I'm jealous."

Adam had so much fun teasing them until they were all smiling and existing together with the firm confidence that there was nothing that could take him away.

Not even death.