***Milo's POV***

No. No. Please. Pleeease.
I lose my voice as Mommy pushes my head down under the water spout. I gurgle but, I can't suck in air. Water fills my mouth and I try to spit it out. More water rushes from the tub spout. My neck hurts with the pressure Mommy is using to hold me under the steady flowing stream.
She lets me go and I gasp for air again. Her hands flip me over and she pushes my back with her palm. Her hand is holding my hair roughly, pushing my lips against the bottom of the tub. I scream into the water that is pooled underneath me. Bubbles surface from the air that escapes with my voice. I cry when she releases me again.
"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you."  Mommy screams as she runs out of the bathroom.
Tears rush down my already wet cheeks. I choke out the clear fluid from my lungs. I jump out of the tub and run to my brother's room, into Neko's arms. "It's ok Koala. I've got you."

I gasp for air as I wake from a dream that scares me. I don't remember that. It has to be a subconscious conjuring of my real fear. I shake as I sit up and take in my surroundings. I look to my side and notice my Batman. He is sleeping and he looks so peaceful.

A throbbing pain screams at me from my injuries. My neck is stiff and my ribs ache. I hold my torso while I try to calm my frantic breaths.

"Neko." I tap his shoulder.

"Hmmm." He hums sleepily.

"It hurts." I whimper.

"What hurts Koala?" Neko panics when he sits up and starts hovering over my damaged body.

"My head, my ribs, my lungs, everything." I cry out as the sensation of pain intensifies.

Neko picks up his phone and sighs.

"I'm sorry Koala. I forgot to set an alarm. Your pain meds are past due. Hold on okay." Neko runs out of the bedroom door and comes back with a bottle of water. He walks to the bathroom and brings back my bottles of Norco and Anaprox. He places a pill from each bottle in my hand and then unscrews the cap from the water. I gratefully throw back the pills.

"It will take a bit to kick in. I'm so sorry." Neko whispers.

He wipes my hair back from my forehead and leaves to the en-suite bathroom again. He comes back with a washcloth and begins cooling down my neck and face.

"Did the pain wake you?" Neko asks.

"No. I had a nightmare." I confess.

"About them?" Neko asks.

"Marla was drowning me. I was younger. I don't remember that actually happening. You were there. You hugged me." I explained.

"God, Koala. I hate them so much. I can't even imagine how much you don't remember." Neko groans against his hands.

"You whispered I've Got You. You held me and I was all better." I stroke the fingers of my left hand over his arm.

"I will always have you." Neko promises as he moves his hands to my face.

"Thank You." I whisper, leaning into his touch.

"You are everything to me. I'm so sorry I let you get hurt." Neko whispers into my face.

I lean into his face and push my dry lips against his soft ones. He kisses me softly and I hum against his mouth. He pecks my lips a few times and pulls away. His gaze is piercing as if he found something he never wants to lose.

"You don't need to apologize. It's in the past. You weren't responsible for their mistakes." I shake my head with his hands still caging my jaw softly.

"I love your lips." I smile at my sleepy Batman.

"I'm glad." Neko grins. He captures my mouth in another tender kiss. I wish he could be more dominant with the kiss. But, I know my jaw is still not completely healed.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Neko coos.

"I can't wait until I can smash my lips against yours." I flutter my eyelashes and dip my chin down, the embarrassment sends a warm flush to my cheeks and neck.

"We have forever." Neko kisses my nose. He adjusts me gently against his chest and we lay back down. I snuggle into his muscular hold, sighing with content.

"Go back to sleep, Koala. I love you." Neko presses a kiss to my hair.

"I love you." I whisper as sleep starts to creep in while the pain eases off.

Morning shines thru the large picture window of our borrowed bedroom. I sit up with a wince of pain. I scrub my fists against my eyes, trying to adjust to the natural light. My body is sticky with sweat. I sniff my shirt and scrunch my nose from the stench.

Neko is staring at me with an undecided look of curiosity.

"I need a shower." I whine.

"That might be tricky." Neko laughs.

"You will have to take one with me." I agree with his statement.

"I can do that. Let me get some bags to cover your casts." Neko instructs. He walks out and returns with two bags of different sizes and duct tape.

He wraps up my arm and leg. He removes the ace bandage from my torso and carries me to the bathroom. After setting me on the toilet, he turns the shower on.

He strips us both and I stare unashamedly at his strong muscular body.

Neko turns to me with a sweet smile.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"No need to apologize. I'm yours." Neko grins.

I smile shyly as he carries me into the shower. Neko braces me against his body as he washes my skin. His hands roam every exposed inch and he applies shower gel. He rinses his hands under the spray and fills his hands with shampoo. He massages the soap into my strands and tilts my head into the water.

He holds me up while he washes his own skin. Then he washes his hair. Afterwards, he grabs a towel and dries me off, wrapping it around my waist. He carefully holds me still while drying himself off and wrapping his own towel around his hips.

He carries me to the bed and sets me down. He hands me the open water bottle along with two of my pills. I take them and wash them back with the room temperature water.

Neko brings clothes to me and helps me into boxers and snap on track pants that are obviously his. He rolls down the waist. After cutting off the bags from my casts he wraps my torso in the elastic bandages. He carefully fixes a shirt of his own over my top half.

Neko slips on a pair of low hung sweat pants and slips his fitted t-shirt on. His body looks edible and I drool while taking in his clothed form.

"You are really sexy." I moan. My member hardens when I stare at him. My cheeks flame up at the loss of control over my words.

"My Koala is adorable and fucking delectable." Neko praises as his lips attach to my neck. I purr as he traces my collarbone with his tongue. I whine when he nips my flesh, tingles erupt over my skin.

"Neko." I moan.

Neko pulls back and adjusts his growing bulge.

"Let's go eat." Neko encourages. He lifts me into his arms and carries me to the kitchen. He places me on a barstool and props my leg up.

Neko hums as he prepares a large breakfast for everyone. Max and Lux are up in a minute and both stretch as they come into the kitchen and start filling glasses with juice. Lux scratches his toned abdomen and I watch in a trance.

"Like what you see Bean?" Lux smirks.

I hide my face in embarrassment from being caught.

"I'm just fucking with you." Lux whispers as he kisses my temple. He runs his fingers thru my hair. Neko growls while he steals a glance at our interaction.

"Calm down Tiger." Lux laughs.

"Hands to yourself wolf." Neko warns Lux.

"You can cut the tension in here with a knife." Mr. Luke chuckles while walking to the coffee pot.

"Neko doesn't want me kissing his boyfriend." Lux laughs as he kisses my cheek.

"Boyfriend?" Mr. Luke smirks. I smile shyly.

"Um. Yeah." Neko scratches his neck nervously.

"Calm down. I don't judge. You two are perfect for one another." Mr. Luke pats Neko on the back and Neko relaxes.

"Sorry." I murmur.

"What for? Bean?" Mrs. Julie giggles as she kisses my cheek and strokes my jaw.

"We kinda saw this coming a mile away." Mrs. Julie nods at her own assumption.

"You aren't weirded out?" I ask.

"Nope. Judgement free zone." Max smiles.

We sit down to the eggs, bacon and pancakes that Neko prepared. I eat slowly because I am not a lefty. More food falls back onto my plate than actually lands in my mouth.

Neko stops eating and feeds me a bite. After that he feeds me and then himself, alternating bites.

"You feel any better?" Mr. Luke asks kindly.

"The pain pills help out a bunch. I got a good shower so I smell presentable." I giggle remembering Neko wet under the water.

"Hmm. I assume you didn't do that alone." Lux hums mischievously.

"Nope. I took one with him." Neko grins like a Chestier Cat.

"Very dedicated." Mrs. Julie busts out laughing.

"Eco-Friendly." Max chuckles.

I blush while they laugh at my expense.

"You guys are terrible." Mr. Luke guffaws.

"Mr. Luke." Neko starts.

"Yes, Neko." Mr. Luke replies.

"I wanted to accept your offer for a permanent job." Neko explains.

"Absolutely. I will get all the paperwork started. You can start as soon as Bean can be left alone." Mr. Luke smiles widely.

"You're staying?" Max shouts with a gleeful grin.

"Yes. Milo wants to be here and I want whatever makes him happy." Neko confirms.

"Nat is gonna be so fucking happy." Max fist bumps the air.

"Yeah, you look totally torn up." I giggle.

"Shit, this is the best news ever." Max claps.

"I'm going to need to buy a vehicle." Neko admits. "And, we need to find an apartment."

"The apartment can wait. No rush. Milo doesn't need too much change right now." Mrs. Julie says. Mr. Luke nods in agreement.

"You guys are the best." I state.

We finish eating. Max and Lux leave for school. The Wallaces head to work. I get settled on the couch and Neko rests beside me. He turns on a sports channel as I get comfortable, cuddled next to him. My pain meds will knock me out at some point.

"Thank you, Batman. You are sacrificing so much for me." I offer my appreciation.

"It's not a sacrifice. It's a trade. I give up something I never really wanted. I get you in return. Win, win!" Neko explains.

"You didn't want the military?" I ask in confusion. That is news to me.

"No. I left to get away from the demons." Neko rubs my arm comfortingly.

"Well, I am glad you are back." I smile up at the blessing who has his arms wrapped around me.

"Me too, Koala. You are my home." Neko whispers.

He pulls my chin lightly towards his. He captures my lips gently in his own. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and let my good arm tangle my fingers in his hair. I deepen the kiss. I moan when his tongue swipes into my warm mouth. He deliciously delivers a tantalizing kiss. He grips my hips and pulls me underneath him.

His body is large and warm. I lay back and he nudges my knees apart. His thigh rests against my crotch and I rock my hips against it. The cotton fabric of his sweats brushes against the shiny material of my track pants. I moan loudly when the friction sends sweet throbs thru my body.

Neko pulls away from our kiss. "Careful Koala." He whispers.

"More." I pant out. "Please. More."

Neko pushes his thigh back into my crotch. I grind against him harder. He grips my ass and uses his hand to rock me faster. I toss my head back as my mouth pops open. A knot forms in my belly and I groan deeply.

"It's ok baby. Cum for me." Neko coddles me.

His words send a wave of shock down my spine. I open my mouth again and shout out as my cum erupts. "Neko! Fuck." I pant.

"Fucking hell. That was the sexiest thing I have ever experienced." Neko huffs out.

I smile stupidly as my body relaxes in his hands.

Neko gets up and grabs me more clothes. He swiftly helps me change and lays down behind me on the couch.

"I liked when you called me baby." I confess in broken whispers. My eyelids feel heavy.

"You are my baby." Neko promises with a kiss to my lips.

"I love you so much." I yawn out.

"I love you Koala. Now close those beautiful eyes and rest." Neko whispers from behind me.

I do as he instructs. I fall slowly to sleep in my boyfriend's arms.