The wolf had casually reminded Blue that he was, of course, his own boss. Eivind owned the lumber company and its subsidiaries. There was no schedule he needed to go by or anyone he needed to report to. This worked out well for them, especially if they were going to have to find a way to function with just Eivind's truck for transportation until Blue got himself a more reliable vehicle. Blue chewed on his lower lip as he listened to Eivind's proposition, shrugging his shoulders dismissively. “I suppose it isn't all that crazy. Whenever I sold my work at the arts and crafts fairs, I usually did pretty well for myself. Having my work available on a professional website as part of a home décor option is actually a really good idea. And if we can get a photographer to take pictures of the banister and the dresser, we can use those to promote my skills in other ways. I always charge more when doing commissions.<br/><br/>Not only would selling his artwork net Blue some extra cash, the idea that he was helping Eivind to provide for their life together was one that settled nicely with Blue. He never wanted to feel like he was benefitting unfairly from all of his wolf's hard work, though he knew Eivind didn't really care. But he cared, and he wanted to be useful. And if he received the opportunity to potential work alongside his lover in some capacity, all the better.<br/><br/>“I can go to school just two days a week,” Blue continued, planning his schedule in his head. “If I did that, we'd only need to commute just a couple of times a week, and I can use the other days to work on any projects. I think we could do it.”<br/><br/>Eivind said his piece about the pack, and Blue could only shrug his shoulders and nod in response. He adored his lover's determination, but he doubted the wolf could simply go in and beat the pack into respecting him, though he didn't doubt Eivind would surely try. It was something they'd need to deal with eventually, especially if they decided to live in the cabin while Blue went to school, which was looking like the most likely situation, but it was a problem for future Blue and Eivind. Not for today.<br/><br/>“Where are we going?” Blue asked curiously. He removed the damp towel from his waist and tossed it over one of the empty racks in the bathroom, enjoying the feeling of once again being nude in front of his lover. As he passed by the mirror on his way out into the bedroom, Blue couldn't help but notice the few fresh bruises that had formed on his body from their rough coupling the night before. Eivind had never gripped him too hard, but times when Blue had been jammed up against a seatbelt or doorhandle showed clearly on his pale skin in the form of purplish pink marks. He grinned, not minding the mild damage done to his body. It would all heal soon enough.<br/><br/>Eivind was illusive when answering Blue's questions, and the young male surmised the wolf had a small surprise planned for him. They dressed, and Blue nodded when Eivind tossed him the keys to the truck. After slipping into the front sit and revving up the ignition, Blue waited quietly, enjoying the way the vehicle rumbled beneath him.<br/><br/>He slipped into the passenger seat when Eivind returned, keeping his eyes open for any clue as to where they were going, but he didn't put the pieces together until Eivind pulled up to a small shopping plaza and straight to Accent Art, the store Blue had purchased many of his supplies over the years.<br/><br/>“Fuck, Vin,” Blue whined, throwing himself onto his lover and pressing their lips together in thanks before rushing out of the car. He spent their little shopping trip gathering essentials, knowing he could purchase more things in the future if necessary. A large set of brushes, a set of watercolors, oils, pencils, a sketch book, a charcoal set, some appropriate canvas, and a portable easel. As usual, Eivind didn't even flinch at the price, and after Blue was finished carefully setting all of his new supplies into the back seat, he rushed around to the driver's side and once again threw himself on Eivind before the wolf could get into the truck. “You want another blowjob? Because you're acting like you want another blowjob,” Blue teased, pulling Eivind into him and letting his body sag against the stronger male as he pressed a deep, lingering kiss to the wolf's lips.<br/><br/>When he finally pulled away, Blue sighed, nuzzling against Eivind's cheek affectionately. “You mind if we make one more stop? I was thinking I could get a prepaid burner phone, so my sisters can text me. I don't know when I'll actually be able to see them again, but I want to keep in contact if possible.”<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br/>​</div>When Louis opened the door to his two-story suburban home, he didn't expect to see a towering, muscular male with a beaten face standing on his doorstep. He looked at the male with a suspicious eye, and when he asked if Blue was home, Louis stepped back, a deep look of anger etched into the features of his face.<br/><br/>“No, Blue is not home. Who are you and what, exactly, do you want with my son?” Louis asked, his voice hard, seemingly not affected by his melodic French accent.<br/><br/>“I'm looking for your son out of concern, sir,” Vincent said solemnly, shaking his head as he stood on the doorstep. “I'm an old friend of Blue's, Mr. Broussard. I ran into him last night and we were having a conversation when his boyfriend completely lost his mind and did<i>this</i>to my face.” Vincent pointed, frowning almost as deeply as Louis. The blonde man had two black eyes, a swollen bottom lip, and bruises along his jaw and cheekbones that could be seen just beneath his thick yellow beard.<br/><br/>“I think the man your son is with is incredibly violent. It took three men just to drag him off of me.” A lie, of course, but Blue's father didn't know that. Vincent hadn't intended on running into Blue's parents, though he knew it a possibility when he decided to pay his ex-boyfriend a visit. He remembered the way, back when Blue used to sneak out of the house to hop into the passenger seat of Vincent's old muscle car. There was no way he could have known Blue was shaking up with his crazy beast of a boyfriend.<br/><br/>“Eivind did this to you?” Louis asked incredulously, widening the opening of the door as he examined the damage done to the stranger's face.<br/><br/>“Yes. I worry about Blue, Mr. Broussard.”<br/><br/>“What's your name?”<br/><br/>“Vincent.”<br/><br/>Louis nodded, stepping aside and waving Vincent forward. “Come inside. Tell my wife and me everything. If that man is a threat to Blue, I need to know.”