Chapter 40

- Daniel's POV -

That was unexpected. My shy and blushing lover yet again managed to surprise me. Especially after yesterday's date was such an awful experience. I mean, he cried himself to sleep. But him going down on me first thing in the morning.... I feel myself starting to get hard again just with this image in my mind. How he even let me look at him.... Or did he? If I am not mistaken, it was more like him looking at me.

"Daniel?" He feels my agitation. I think, I don't want to end this with just one round.

"Love, this morning was pretty one-sided as of now. Let me recompense you." I smirk as I shift our positions, pinning him under me. But this cheeky little devil just meets me with a sly smile "I thought you would never ask."

I don't need anymore of an invitation. I recompense him thoroughly for the next hour.

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Spent, but happy we disentangle from each other and head towards the shower. With our love-making limited to once or twice on the weekend his body slowly grew accustomed to it. Right now, he at least manages to walk straight towards the shower. He still feels shy about the aftercare, but I won't let him do it by himself. Who would pass up on seeing his lover with still flushed skin from the pleasure, blushing in front of me and moaning slightly as I wash him all over and inside his body?

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We spend the day lazing around, taking a leisurely walk with Zero. Without Peter urging us on to hurry up towards the lake or the playground, we can take our time and enjoy the calmness of the park.

I don't dare to touch on the subject of his family. Everyone has their own package to carry. He will share when he feels ready. But deep inside I still feel rage boiling up when I think about those self-righteous pricks.

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A week passed since then. We settled back into our dating routine, but with an addition. I want to help him, even a little. So I force him to spend time with my family to yet again feel the acceptance that is indeed possible to obtain. I used a sly trick - and Dana's help - for it.

When we started heading out for a walk with Zero and Peter, Dana stops us. I admit I might have put her up to it.

"Daniel, teacher Alex, could you please rent a DVD on the way back? I wanted to watch it later with Peter." She hands us a piece of paper. Alex eyes widen as he reads the note 'Heroes series part 1 - Tiger man'.

"You want to start watching the hero series?" I have to suppress a chuckle when I see his eyes sparkle.

"Oh, do you like the series? I watched it when I was young and just remembered it when I saw the movie posters for the new part. I thought it might be something for Peter, especially, since the earlier films have nearly no violence in them.", Dana should be rewarded with an acting award. She hated action movies since a young age. My love for my sister grows by the minute.

"Yes! You are absolutely right! I was barely much older than Peter when the first part released. My brother first made me watch it with him, but we soon loved it equally."

I flinch. I didn't want to touch on the subject of his family. But surprisingly, Alex seems to only focus on the positive memory.

"Oh, if you don't have plans why don't the two of you stay for the film? We can do a real movie night."

I have to contain a laugh when I see Alex looking at me pleadingly.

"Of course, love. We can go eat after the film."

"Yes." Ah, I love seeing my lover so happy.

We walk the dog for a good two hours and, as promised, get the DVD on the way back. When we enter the living room, Dana already prepared the snacks and drinks.

"Did you get it?" she greets us.

Peter answers, Alex' excitement rubbing off on him. "Yes! Let's watch it right now!"

"Okay, okay. Let me first get the last of the snacks. Daniel can start putting the DVD in." I comply and Dana turns off the lights when she returns, the television already flickering.

"Come, Peter. You can sit with me.", Dana says. Peter just adds a commanding: "Zero, come along." The three of them huddle together on one part of the sofa. I gesture towards Alex to sit next to me. "Alex, come here." My heart hurts when I see a bit of reluctance in his eyes. His jerk of a brother made him regress so many steps.

But I don't force him, I just wait. I know he has to sort himself out. And sure enough, I see him look over towards Dana who purposefully looks towards the screen. But the tension is finally broken by Peter who exclaims in an indignant voice "Teacher Alex, sit down. The film is starting."

My own tension goes down when I see Alex smile at these words and finally move to sit next to me.

I don't push him on this first try. However, in the middle of the film when Peter is already totally immersed and shouts at the screen, we both grab for the same snack. The skin contact shoots a shiver through my body. I grab his hand and place both our hands between us, blocked from the other's view. I feel Alex tense besides me, looking frantically towards Dana and Peter. But both of them keep their eyes on the screen. I rub my thump over his palm soothingly and slowly, excruciatingly slowly, Alex starts to relax and focuses back on the screen. I can still feel him fidgeting beside me but he allows me to hold his hand.

It nearly fails when at the end of the movie Dana walks out and comes back in only to see the credits showing on the screen. She mercilessly turns on the lights, exposing our interlinked hands. Alex looks at her, his panic, pleading and apologies apparent in his eyes. But Dana, my beautiful sister, just keeps her gaze steady and looks up to Alex, directly into his frantic eyes. And smiles. She puts all of her love for me and for us in this smile.

I am surprised that nonetheless she says "Peter, come help me in the kitchen.", an obvious attempt to give us some time together. But I soon notice why.

Her kindness and boundless acceptance moved Alex more than I could have imagined. I see tears stream down his face. He doesn't sob, he doesn't make a sound. Just those tears silently trailing down his cheeks, evidence for the longing to be accepted.

"It's alright, love." I hug him close, and soothingly whisper in his ear, stroke over his back. We sit like this for a short while until I feel him relaxing against my shoulders.

"Thank you, Daniel." he whispers in my chest.

I kiss the top of his head and hug him even closer. I hope I managed to give him back a bit of his courage.

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We watch the next film on Sunday and even during the week, we schedule for the rest of them. With this, Dana can take Peter to the movies the next weekend.

The next film we start to sit closer, our hips touching, still interlinking our hidden hands.

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The third film I wrap my arm around his shoulder. He first tenses, but at about half of the film he leans into my shoulder.

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During the fourth film, as soon as the lights are out, he leans into me. I kiss him on the top of his head, wrapping my arm around him. I feel glad, that at least in the darkness of my living room I can give him the acceptance and security he so much craves.