Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5889898.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Take_That_(Band)
  Relationship:
      Mark_Owen/Robbie_Williams, Gary_Barlow/Mark_Owen, Howard_Donald/Jason
      Orange
  Character:
      Robbie_Williams, Mark_Owen, Gary_Barlow, Jason_Orange, Howard_Donald
  Additional Tags:
      willowen_-_Freeform, alternative_universe
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-02-03 Chapters: 11/11 Words: 13513
****** Family (2015 rewrite) ******
by JunkiesBaddyPowder
Summary
     A somewhat ridiculous and flufly willowen romcom. AU. Is not easy for
     Rob to be accepted in the Donage family. (Set in the late '80s/early
     '90s. In this A.U. Robbie and Mark are the same age, 16 y.o., Gary is
     around 19 or 20, Jason and Howard are 40-something).
Notes
     I originally wrote this back in 2012 (I think), based on something I
     wrote on Tumblr, and the response I got from another tumblr user. The
     post was deleted, but it was something like this: "If TT were a
     family, Jason and Howard would be the dads, Mark would be their
     little son, and Robbie would be Mark's rebel boyfriend... but who
     would Gary be?" and the other tumblr user's response was something
     like: "He'd be the good boy next door that Jason wants Mark to date
     instead of Robbie".
     Based on that, I wrote this wonderful piece of junk that I'm so fond
     of to re-write 3 years later.
     Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional and crack as hell.
***** Chapter 1 *****
Pump up the jam, pump it up
While your feet are stompin'
And the jam is pumpin'
Look ahead the crowd is jumpin'
Robbie loved to watch Mark dance. The boy really got lost in the music, no
matter how lame it was. The dance floor was almost empty, being so early in the
evening, and a Monday, so Rob got a very good view from where he stood, at the
bar, holding two glasses of beer.
As he approached his dancing boyfriend he wished Mark’s fathers let him stay
with him the whole night. Howard was alright, he never tried to interfere in
their relationship. He even seemed to like Rob, but Jason… Robbie was sure
Jason hated him. No matter how many jokes he told him, or how charming he tried
to be, Jason never even smiled at him. Of course he understood Jason was only
worried about his son’s well being, but Rob was sure he never gave him any
reason to think Mark was in danger when they were together. Not a real danger,
anyway.
Robbie really wanted to move on to the next level with his Markie, but he
didn’t want to rush things and end up fucking in the back seat of his car. Mark
deserved a different treatment. He wanted to take him to a nice hotel and make
love to him all night long, but Mark’s dads never gave them the opportunity, so
Rob started to think the back seat of his car would have to do.
He handed Mark one glass of icy beer.
“Ey… are you trying to get me wasted, Mr. Williams?”
“Maybe...” Rob closed the distance between them, sliding one arm around Mark’s
waist.
“So you can have your way with me in the back seat of your car?”
Robbie blinked a few times “Are you psychic or something?”
“You know, I wouldn’t mind that”. Mark smiled and kept dancing in that sexy,
cheap way Robbie loved, rubbing his hips against his to the rhythm of
Technotronic's music.
“You sure?”
Mark slung his arms around Rob’s neck. Their foreheads touched, and Robbie
could see the determination in Mark’s eyes. He kissed him.
“Alright, let’s go then, we don’t have much time. Thank your dads for that” Rob
said, pushing Mark to the exit.
“Ey, what did you said about me dads?”
………………..
They were kissing, right in front of the car. Desperate, clumsy kisses, and
hands everywhere. Mark tried to feel calm, but there was this strange feeling
in his belly. Maybe he was a bit scared after all. Not of his Rob, that’s for
sure, but to have his first time… in a car? Right there on the street, where
anybody could see them? And what about the police? Mark envied those who would
find these possibilities thrilling, but for him they were a total turn off. He
could sense that Rob wasn’t quite alright either.
“What is it?” he asked Robbie after breaking the kiss.
“Mark, I… I don’t even have lube in there” he gestured at the car. “This isn’t
right.”
“Oh, come on, Rob, it's not like we have that many options. Me, I’m not picky.
This will do. It’s fine. It’ll be fine.” He smiled, and Robbie’s eyes lit up.
He opened the car’s door and invited Mark in… though it wasn’t the back seat
door he opened, but the passenger’s seat. Mark entered quite puzzled and then
Robbie seated next to him and started the engine.
“W… where are we going?” Mark started to feel excited: maybe Rob would take him
to a more intimate place.
“I’m taking you home, Markie. It’s almost time anyway”.
“But..”
Mark stood silent for the rest of the short drive up to his house. Surely his
boyfriend tried to do what was best for him, but he felt disappointed
nonetheless. Disappointed, and a bit rejected.
When they arrived Mark mumbled a quick goodbye and got out of the car without
looking back at Robbie.
“Oy!” Robbie exited the car and reached out to grab Mark’s hand “I’m not saying
goodnight to you, yet.”
“Uh?”
Robbie got closer and kissed his lips, delicately, holding his face in his
hands like he was the most precious thing in the universe. “Well, aren’t you
gonna invite me in?”.

……………

“He's here?” asked Jason’s voice from upstairs.
“He's here!” answered Howard, who was peeping out the window. “Uh oh…”
“What is it?” Howard could hear the preoccupation in Jason’s voice.
“Uh, nothing, just that… they’re coming together.”
Howard left the mugs of tea he was holding on the nearest table and run to open
the door before his husband did, but Jason got there first.
“Oh, good evening, Sir! Here we are, eleven o’clock, just as you ordered, Sir!”
Robbie said staring at his watch, still holding hands with Mark, who chuckled
behind him.
Jason didn’t like the mock in Rob’s tone, not even one bit, but he was thankful
they weren’t late this time.
“It's good to see you are wearing a watch, now. Goodnight, Robert.”
“Oh, are you going to bed so early, sir?”
Robbie entered the house quite confidently, and Mark started to giggle. “Mr.
Donald.” Robbie nodded at Howard.
“Hello.” Howard looked as puzzled as his husband. “Are you staying, Rob?”
“Yes, thank you, sir.”
Robbie sat on the living room’s couch, and turned tv on, with Mark at his side.
“Oh, don’t worry about me, I won’t be a bother. We will be watching telly here
with Markie, so you can keep doing whatever you were doing. We might make us a
sandwich or something, later, a bit of a midnight snack, cause I don’t know
Mark but me I’m starving, and then we will go to bed, I think.” And he finished
the sentence with a smile.
Howard stared at him and couldn’t help but smile back. This kid might be a
cheeky little bastard, he thought, but he’s funny. He grabbed the mugs of tea
he forgot on the table and handed one to Jason.
“Umm,Robert, are you planning to stay here… the whole night?” Jason grabbed the
mug so tightly Howard thought it was going to break.
“He can stay in my room. We won’t make much noise, promise”. Mark tried to
sound as innocent as possible.
“Oh, sure you won’t.” said Howard, suppressing giggles himself.
“Howard, can I have a word with you?”
Jason dragged his husband to the kitchen, and stared at him disconcerted.
“What exactly do you think they will do if we let them alone in Mark’s
bedroom?”
“Have sex, of course. But Jay, " Howard held his husband closely “that will
happen anyway. And it's better for Mark if they’re here, in his own…
environment, rather than in some cheap motel room, or the back seat of a car,
or a dirty alley...”
“Alright, alright, I got it. Just stop putting all those images in my head,
please.” Jason said, and after a moment he smiled. “My first time with a lad
was in the Men’s room of some night club”.
“See? And it wasn’t very nice, I bet.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was quite… rough, and rushed...” Jason shook his head. “I
guess you’re right. I wouldn’t mind if he did it with some other boy, but this
Robbie… I swear, if he…”
“Jay, if he does something wrong to Mark, I’ll take care of him”. Howard tried
to sound menacing.
“I take your word”.
They both smiled.
“But, you know, it's just this kid; he gets on my nerves, he really, really
does.”
“I know” Howard kissed Jason and looked at him warmly. “Why can't he be just
like Gary?”
………………
***** Chapter 2 *****

“Don’t touch the liquor cabinet, alright?” Jason warned them as he went
upstairs with Howard. “Good night, Mark”.
“Good night, daddy Jay!”
“Good night, Mr. Orange, Sir!”
“Good night, kids”.
“Good night, daddy How!”
“Good night, Mark's not-so-hostile dad!”
Howard chuckled at the insolence, and both parents disappeared from their
sight.
Not one second later, Robbie was all over Mark. Their kisses were slow, though,
just like their hands; there was no hurry now.
Robbie’s lips travelled half open though the exposed skin of Mark’s neck,
kissing, nibbling. Mark’s hands slipped under Robbie’s hoodie and shirt,
caressing his sides with the tip of his fingers, drawing invisible circles,
making Robbie shiver; he was quite hard by now, and started to thrust his hips
against Mark’s crotch. Mark opened his legs to allow better access, and moaned
delighted when their erections touched through their clothes.
“Shh… Remember, we must be very quiet” Robbie whispered, though he giggled
against Mark’s neck.
“Then stop giggling!” Mark whispered back, then he licked Robbie’s earlobe.
“Oh yeah, do that again…”
Mark kept sucking and licking at Robbie’s ear, until Rob decided to slip a hand
under Mark’s t-shirt and play with his nipples, leaving Mark unable to perform
any action for a while. Seeing this, Rob lifted Mark’s shirt and started
licking and lightly sucking at his nipples, until Mark had to stop him.
“God… Rob… please…” Mark panted.
“Can we go to your room, now?”
Mark nodded, breathless.
He took Rob’s hand in his to lead him to his room, and Rob pulled Mark’s hand
to his crotch, smiling wickedly. Mark stroked Rob’s erection skilfully through
his jeans, making him gasp. Already in his room, Mark closed the door with his
free hand and started to undo Robbie’s pants.
He already knew Robbie’s cock very well, and knew how to work it. He went to
his knees, wetted his lips and took it in his mouth, inch by inch, to the hilt,
allowing it to slip through his throat. He moved slowly, making enough pressure
with his lips, and sucking deeply at the head, playing with his tongue at the
slit.
Rob had his head thrown back and his mouth half open, breathing fast. He wished
he could let go and cum in that precious mouth, but this was THE night, and he
wanted to do so many things. With this thought in mind he eased himself out of
Mark’s mouth.
They undressed clumsily, smiling and staring devotedly at their naked bodies.
They both sighed at the same time, then burst in laughter, falling over the
small bed.
“Shhhh!!”
“Oh, yeah, sshh!” Robbie whispered dramatically, then he kissed Mark deeply
before saying in an almost broken voice: “If you could have the slightest idea
of how special you are… God, I'm so in love with you, Mark.”
“Aww, Rob…” Mark stared into Robbie's eyes; they were so wide, stripped; he
could see that spark of innocence that no one else seemed to notice, no one but
him. “I love you so very much.”
“And your cock loves me, too! Look, it’s leaking, just for me.”
Mark chuckled, but he had to admit he was right. Rob took him in his hand, and
stroked slowly, making him melt against the mattress.
“Do you have...” he asked, kissing Mark’s belly.
“Yeah, there, in the drawer; and there’s a small bottle of lube, too. The one I
use when I… you know, do stuff to myself.”
“Oh, you naughty!” Robbie reached for said lube, and poured some on his hand.
“Now brace yourself, dear Markie.”
Before Mark could say something funny to disguise his nerviousness, Rob started
to lick his cock, just below the head; swift moves of his tongue, making Mark’s
legs tremble. Robbie took Mark's cock firmly with a lubed hand, stroking it
slowly. Mark grabbed the sheets, and then Rob’s mouth enclosed the glans,
sucking frantically, delighted with his taste, moaning, making Mark’s cock get
even fuller and harder.
Mark bit his lips and tried to stay silent, breathing deeply and fast through
his nose; he knew if he opened his mouth he would wake up not only his dads,
but the whole neighborhood. When Robbie cupped his balls with that lubed hand,
he covered his mouth with a fist, and bit his own flesh to mumble his moans.
Then Rob’s slick hand started to caress that little special part of his body
between his balls and his asshole, drawing circles with his slippery thumb.
Mark started to feel a different kind of arousal, deep inside. He was now quite
relaxed. Rob’s sucking became softer and slower, while his fingers travelled
lower, circling the puckered skin.

……………..

The first lubed finger entered quite easily, and so did the second one. Robbie
stopped sucking Mark’s cock and smiled.
“Is that alright?” he arched his fingers. Mark’s mouth opened in a silent “O”,
and his cock twitched.
“…God, yeah…” he finally answered.
“Have you done this before, I mean fingering yourself?” Robbie moved his
fingers in and out, slowly, and watched Mark’s reaction.
“Maybe…” Mark opened his eyes, giving Rob a dirty look, and added “You should
let me finger you some time, you’ll love it”.
Robbie had never let anyone get even close to his ass. He wasn’t into that sort
of thing, but he had to admit Mark’s offer tempted him.
“Well, I might let you, one day” he kissed Mark’s cock. “But don’t forget: I’m
a well hard bloke, alright?”.
Mark laughed. “Sure, sure... Oh, God, yeah…!” Robbie was moving and twisting
his fingers rapidly inside of him, drawing shapes, hitting nerves, touching and
rubbing that one special spot that Mark loved. He arched his back and bit his
lip not to scream.
“You like it there, don’t you?” Rob tested this spot, watching mesmerized how
Mark’s lithe body moved and trembled, glistering in the half dark with sweat.
He tried adding a third finger. Mark hissed.
“Did that hurt?”
“…N-no, just burns a little, but feels so good... Please, move them faster!”
Robbie obliged, and started to touch his own neglected cock, though he did it
slowly, afraid he might cum right then and there. He had to use all of his self
control not to; he never felt so aroused in his entire life.
“God, Rob… Please, just fuck me… Please…”
“Ok… ok.” Robbie withdrew his fingers and reached for a condom. He put it on
with shaky hands, and discovered he was quite nervous. He positioned himself
between Mark’s legs, held his cock with a hand and pushed in tentatively,
feeling how that hot, tight body swallowed him in. Mark flinched, so Rob
covered his face with kisses.
“Sorry, sorry!”
“I’m alright” Mark smiled to prove it “, It's just that... you’re so bloody
huge!” he said, mostly to please Rob.
Robbie smiled proudly and gave him a long kiss. He felt how Mark’s inner
muscles relaxed little by little, and soon the full length of his cock slid in
with no further resistance. He started to move. He tried slow, deep thrusts,
but soon discovered that Mark preferred quick, small ones, especially when he
changed his position, putting Mark’s legs over his shoulders, and moved in a
certain angle, hitting that sweet spot he tested before with his fingers.
“Oh, God, Rob… Oh, God, oh God…!” Mark thought his high pitched moans made him
sound like a girl, and they definitively would reach his dads' ears, but he
couldn’t care less at the moment: Rob’s cock felt too damn good; the blunt head
was rubbing against that blessed spot inside of him, making him see stars.
“Oh, f-f-f-fuck!” Robbie felt Mark’s ass clench at his cock, rhythmically. He
threw his head back, feeling his orgasm build up slowly. “Oh… my… God! Mark…
I’m so close… Please, tell me you’re close too...”
But Mark was already touching his own cock frantically, and with a loud moan he
came hard over his chest, the contractions of his muscles drawing Robbie closer
and closer to his own orgasm.
Robbie let out a single “Oh…!!!” and managed to ride the rest of his orgasm
quite silently, collapsing over Mark and breathing heavily against his neck. He
withdrew from him, threw the condom at the side of the bed, hoping it would
land in the paper basket, and collapsed back over Mark; he could feel his
lover’s frenzied heart slow down, and was about to say something deep and
meaningful, but Mark burst out in laughter.
“Wh- why are you laughing?” asked Robbie, starting to smile himself.
“Oh, sorry, Rob, it's just that--" more giggling. “I was so nervous, and then
it was great! And now I feel so... happy! I-I have a giggle attack!”
“But Mark, I’m in a very emotional post-orgasm state here, could you please be
more considerate?” And they both laughed now, loud and careless, clear and
innocent laughter.
“I can be emotional, too.” Mark hugged Robbie tightly and said “You look so
beautiful when you cum. Like a fucking sex god.”
“Oh, Markie… And you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever fucked, and that’s
saying a lot.”
“Aww!” He cuddled against Rob’s chest and soon they were both asleep.

…………….
***** Chapter 3 *****
“You are NOT showering together” Howard surprised Mark and Robbie furtively
entering the bathroom hand in hand. “And don’t insist. I might be a tolerant
dad, but don’t test me or I can be as awful as Jason. Is that clear, Robbie?”
“Oh, yes, sir, very clear. It would be rude to abuse the trust you and Mr.
Orange deposited in me.”
“That goes for you as well, Mark. And you left the telly on last night!”
“Sorry, dad. Then I’ll shower first.” Mark gave Robbie a quick peck on the lips
and disappeared behind the bathroom door.
“And I can shower after Mark” Robbie smiled at Howard.
“Sure, or you can shower at your own place” Jason approached them with two mugs
of fresh coffee in his hands, offering one to his husband.
“Yes, I could, but honestly, sir, I stink, after all that sweating of last
night, and I think it would be better if I—“
“Robbie” Howard interrupted him “, you’ve heard Jay. And don’t be so cheeky.
You only stayed last night, that doesn’t mean you’re already part of the
family.”
“But I am! I’m almost MARRIED to Mark!”
Jason choked on his coffee, and stared blankly at Robbie “You are certainly
NOT.”
“Oh... alright, then… I think I’ll leave now. I’ll call Mark later.”
Robbie put the rest of his clothes on and walked angrily towards the house'
back door, passing through the kitchen, where he grabbed a bunch of bananas and
a bun. “They could at least invite me breakfast! Guess I can take these, then…
I know when I’m not welcomed, thank you very much!” he mumbled as he left the
house.
“Robert, isn’t it?”
Robbie looked around and saw a blonde fit boy approaching him through the
garden. He was wearing a light blue button up shirt, white trousers and brown
leather shoes. ‘What a twat' Robbie thought, and then he recognized him.
“I know you from somewhere".
“Hi” the blonde boy reached to shake Rob’s hand, smiling “I’m Mr. Orange and
Mr. Donald’s neighbour. Or must I say: I’m Mark’s friend. Gary”.
Robbie stuck in his mouth the bun he was holding and shook this boy’s hand.
“Oh, yeah, hi” he managed to say while chewing.
“I live in that house over there. We met at Mark’s birthday”.
“Yeah, I remember. You bought him that weird fluffy sweater. Can you believe it
looks good on him? Mark can rock anything.”
“Ha ha, yeah. I… I understand you and Mark are... dating, now.”
“It's more than just dating. Our relationship is quite serious.” Robbie
finished his bun and stared at Gary, studying his reaction.
“Oh, really? That’s... wonderful.” Gary’s smile tensed.
“Actually...” Robbie smiled widely, while peeling a banana “we are getting
married!”
Gary’s face turned white.
Robbie took a big bite of the banana and walked towards his car. “Shee, ya,
Gawy!” he said with his mouth full.
Gary forced a smile. “Yeah, see ya.”

………………………….

Gary stood there, in front of the house, trying to understand how such
responsible and caring dads like Howard and Jason would let their son marry
that punk! He took a deep breath before ringing the bell.
“Oh, hi, Gary, how are you?” Jason beamed a smile, pleased to see his favourite
neighbour.
“Fine, fine, I came to say hello to Mark before I go to work. And I-I’ll like
to speak with you and Howard, about… something I’ve heard.”
“S-sure, come on in.” Jason studied Gary’s face, starting to get worried. “Come
have a cuppa, some organic fruit salad…”
“Thanks.”
They went to the living room where Howard was reading the paper without much
interest.
“Gary, nice to see you! Here, have a bun”.
“Thanks, Howard” Gary sat and started to eat eagerly. “I should quit these,
though; I’m trying to lose some weight” he laughed, nervously.
Howard smiled warmly at him, and looked at his husband inquisitively.
“So, you wanted to speak with us about something?” Jason asked, pouring some
coffee in a clean mug and handing it to Gary.
“Yes, well… It’s not easy for me to talk about these things, but I consider you
to be my friends, especially Mark, and that’s what I want to talk to you about.
I’m a bit worried about... I know it's none of my business, but I don’t think
this Robbie could be a good… companion to Mark, and definitively you shouldn’t,
I mean if I were you, I wouldn’t allow my son to marry such a boy.”
Jason and Howard stared at him with a blank expression, and then burst out
laughing.
“Marry Rob?! Why would you think that? You've heard they were getting married?”
asked Howard still laughing.
“I just had a short conversation with Robert and he told me so”.
“Oh, so he really thinks he’s going to marry Mark, uh? That kid has quite an
imagination. Gary,” Jason said, putting a hand on Gary’s shoulder “I can assure
you, we won’t let that happen. Mark it's still too young anyway. Of course, if
he started dating someone else, someone, let’s say, more serious, more
responsible, someone who knew what he wants in life, with a promising career, a
stable life…”
“Yeah, someone with short blonde hair and a house just across the street,
right, Jay?” Howard lifted an eyebrow and stared at Jason with half a smile on
his lips; he found this whole matter amusing.
Gary looked embarrassed, but he was relieved the news weren’t true, and happy
to have Jason on his side. He was sure they knew he was quite in love with
their son, and he was ready to do anything to win over Mark’s heart. Of course
that would take some time, seeing how crazy the boy was about this Robbie lad,
but Gary always got what he wanted through perseverance, and he was sure that
with patience he would get Mark as well. After all Gary felt pretty confident;
he had a good job, he was making quite some money, and he had a lovely body as
well! Though his sweet tooth could put that in danger.
“Where’s Rob?” Mark’s cheerful voice came from behind him, and Gary turned
around to find a very wet, very half-naked Mark with only a towel around his
hips. Gary felt his cheeks turn into two red hot dots.
“Good morning, Mark.”
“Oh, hi, Gary. So, has Robbie left?”
“Yes, he seemed to be late for something because he left in a hurry.” Jason
said while eating his fruit salad.
“Maybe he was late for work” added Howard. “He said he’d call you later”. He
didn’t want to hide information from his son, but tried as well to stay neutral
on this matter.
“Oh, ok. I better get dressed, then. I'll have me some eggs, please, daddy
How?” Mark flashed a smile at Gary and went to his room. 'Well, someone's
really happy this morning' Gary thought.
“Gary, why don’t you drive Mark to school after breakfast? He’s already late
and we’ll need our car.”
“Really?” Howard asked puzzled while he served Mark’s eggs on a plate. “I
thought you didn’t have to go to the office today.”
Jason ignored his husband, and pushed Gary towards Mark’s room. “Come on, Gaz,
just knock and tell him you’ll like to drive him to school, and you can have a
little chat" Jason patted his shoulder encouragingly and left.
Gary knocked.
“Come in!”
He entered the room and was assaulted by the scent of soap, shampoo and,
underneath, the unmistakable smell of sex. He felt silly for not having
considered that before entering the room, but of course Mark and Robbie have
had sex last night, why wouldn’t they? He immediately wanted to leave, but the
sight of Mark’s still shirtless body, his hair sparkling with little droplets
of water, and the fact that, besides Robbie’s he could smell Mark’s fluids in
the air, convinced him to stay, though he felt oddly perverse. He took a sit on
the bed, over the tangled sheets.
“Hey, Gaz, can you take me to school on your car? Usually I’d go with Rob,
but…”
“Yes, of course” he smiled. “ Umm… So, does Robbie still go to school, or…?”
“No, he works.” Mark sat on the bed next to him to put on his shoes. “He
dropped out of school last year. He wasn’t doing very well anyway, and needed
to make some money.” Mark’s expression went dead serious. “Robbie and his
family are going through some tough times. Now their only support is Rob.” Mark
bit his lip. “That’s why it makes me so mad when me dads start saying he’s not
a responsible person and all that crap! If they only knew…!”
Gary was shocked to see Mark so livid. He looked down a bit embarrassed.
“But, Mark, let’s be fair, I’ve heard things about him, things your dads told
me, that…”
“What?! Things like that time when we sneaked into that store at night and the
police came and we almost ended up in jail? He used to work there and they
fired him still owing him his pay. So he told me he was going in to get his
money, it was only fair, and I wanted to go as well; I wouldn’t let him go
there alone.” Mark said while putting on his shirt. “They must have told you
about the ‘incident’ at the football match as well, am I right?” Mark smiled
bitterly. “We just hugged each other, that’s all, we didn’t even kissed, but
those blokes could see through; I guess they weren’t as dim as they looked. And
they wanted to beat the hell out of us. But Robbie has some balls, alright: he
didn’t even flinch at the terrible things they yelled at us. I was quite
scared, but he protected me, even though I didn’t need him to.” He lifted his
head with pride.
“But he got into a fight with hooligans instead of just walking away! Look,
Mark, I understand that you love him, and he must love you very much, but
that’s no excuse to expose you to such dangers; you are just a kid-”
“So is he. People shouldn’t forget that.”

…………………………

They drove in silence. Gary hated himself for ruining it all by talking about
Robbie; that lad was problematic even as a subject of conversation. But not
everything had being in vain: he was sure the sight of Mark’s body and the
scent of his room would stay with him for a long time, keeping him company
through his lonely nights.
........................................
***** Chapter 4 *****
As the day faded away, Robbie drove home, anxious to grab the phone and talk to
Mark. He had quite a shitty day at his new shitty job. Only the memory of last
night kept his good mood alive.
He kissed his mom’s cheek, gave some money to his sister and ate some leftovers
before locking in his room to call Mark.
“Yes?”
“Hello, sir. Can I speak to Mark, please?”
Jason rolled his eyes and called out his son.
“Is it for me!?”
“Yes!”
Mark took the call in the library upstairs, where he had been studying for an
exam. “Hi, Rob!”
“How did you know it was me?”
“Because we are bonded.”
“Ah. That explains a lot of things. Hold on a sec.”
“…”
“… Alright.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to make sure your dad wasn’t listening. But just in
case: Jason Orange, you’re a wanker!”
“’Ey!”
Robbie giggled “Sorry. It's just that I’m not liking your dads very much,
lately. They were quite rude to me this morning, ...which, in a way I can
understand, after last night.”
“We were a bit noisy, weren’t we?”
“Mmm, but it was worth it.”
“Fuck, yes, it was.”
They both sighed at the same time. Then chuckled.
“We ARE bonded!”
“Told you. And what did my dads said to you?” asked Mark.
“Umm, nothing really, they just told me I couldn’t shower there, and then they
sent me home, but in a very rude way! Oh, and they said something else, too:
that I shouldn’t think of myself as a part of your family because I wasn’t.”
“Oh” Mark frowned “, but you are, to me.”
“Really?” Robbie smiled, delighted “Then I was right when I said we were almost
married. Because, in a way, we are, like you said, bonded. I mean… aren’t we?”
Mark smiled, his eyes getting wet “'Course we are.” He sighed and stayed quiet
for a while.
Robbie started to feel nervous and afraid he went too far this time, mentioning
the word “married”. He wasn’t sure what to say next, and how to break that
awkward silence, but after a moment he dared to ask “You alright, Markie?”.
“Yeah… Yeah.” Mark sniffed.
“Are you crying?” Robbie asked softly.
“Umm... maybe.”
“Markie, did I upset you?”
“No, no, it’s just… I don’t know, I wish we could get together more often. Like
right now. Wanna hug you, Rob.”
Now were Robbie’s eyes that got teary.
“Mark, I’m gonna ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest,
alright? Even if that breaks my heart, but, please, I need you to be honest,
yes?”
“Of course” Mark braced himself, waiting for Robbie’s question.
“Alright... What if I ask you to... marry me? I mean, really married, with
papers and everything.”
“…” Mark couldn’t believe Robbie actually asked him THE question.
“…M-Mark?”
“God, Robbie! I… Y-Yeah! Yeah!” Mark jumped up and down, feeling ecstatic. This
was SO wrong, but so right.
“Really!? REALLY!? YES!!! HE SAID YES!!! I’M GONNA MARRY MARK OWEN!!! MARK
OWEN!!!” Robbie was bouncing on his mattress, yelling at the window, wanting
the entire neighbourhood to know the news.
Mark laughed out loud listening how his future husband went mental. “Fuck, I so
want to snog you”.
“And I so want to fuck you. C’mon, let’s have our honey moon in advance.”
Robbie made a dirty motion with his hips, oblivious to the fact that Mark
couldn’t see him.
“Right now?”
“Yeah!”
Mark knew his dads wouldn’t let him go to Robbie’s at that time, after all it
was almost midnight, but if he had to sneak out jumping from the window to see
him, he would. “Oh, ok! In your place?”
“Umm…” Robbie looked around, scratching his head. They used his room before,
but always for a quick wank or blowjob, and only when they were alone; now his
mom and sister were there, watching telly just a few steps from the bedroom’s
door. But he still had no money to go to a motel with Mark. So it was this
room, or the car. “Don’t you mind? The walls are paper thin, but I’ll manage to
make us some privacy. After all we did it in your place last night; I guess
it’s only fair to do it in mine, now.”
“Alright, then.”
“Wait, will your dads let you come at this hour?”
“Don’t worry about that, I’ll jump from the window. They’ll never notice I’m
out, I told them I’d be studying all night.”
Robbie chuckled “That’s my boy!”
He hung up the phone, tidied the room a little, and suddenly had an idea: he
would give Mark a little surprise. He called one of his old mates from school.
“Yeah?”
“Hi, Robbie here.”
“Rob! haven't heard of you in a while. You need something?”
“I do, but I don’t have the money for it.”
“Oh, c’mon, Rob, you know that’s no problem. But weren’t you clean now?”
“Yes, I am! I don’t want that stuff. Listen…”

………………….

Mark checked himself in front of the bookcase’s glass doors and smiled at his
reflection. He faced the window. He opened it, looked down and swallowed. It’s
not that high, he thought, he’ll just have to grab hold of that tree’s branch
and land on his feet in the right way. He took a deep breath and jumped.
The tree branch slowed down his fall, but when his feet touched the ground he
felt a sharp pain. “Fuck!” he whispered. He grabbed his right ankle and
squeezed softly. It hurt, but nothing was broken. He walked quietly to the side
of the house, where he left his bicycle that afternoon, and climbed on it.
After a while the pain on his ankle reduced to a small sting now and then,
thanks to the adrenaline running through his body. He started to think about
what kind of life he and Robbie would have once they’d get married. He realized
this sort of sneaking-out-of-his-house-to-see-Rob wasn’t very practical. “Then
my dads would have to accept Rob in the family”, he thought; there was no other
option. "Rob could live with us, until I start to work and we save enough money
to rent a place together". Yeah, he had everything sorted out by the time he
got to Robbie’s. Although he wasn’t prepared to see what he saw.

…………………………

***** Chapter 5 *****
Robbie was talking to a boy in front of his house. Mark got off of his bike and
watched them from a few houses away, a bit puzzled. They were in a transaction
of some sort, Mark noticed, and started to wonder of what kind when he saw the
boy’s face. Mark knew him, from school. Ramsey was his name, and he learned to
avoid this boy as the plague. Everybody knew the boy sold drugs to other kids,
drugs and other stuff, mostly stolen. Mark had no idea Ramsey and Robbie knew
each other. Mark never saw them together, back when Robbie went to school, and
Rob never even mentioned him to Mark.
He panicked. Concealed by the darkness under a tree, he watched how Robbie put
something in his pocket and then waved Ramsey goodbye, then lit a cigarette and
waited for Mark. Afraid he might be seen hiding under that tree, Mark stepped
out of the shadows, approaching him. He had no idea of what to say to Rob, he
didn’t even know what to make of this whole situation.
“Markie! Oh, come here.” Robbie hugged him tightly and then kissed him. Mark
responded partially. “What’s wrong?”
“Rob, from where do you know this Ramsey?” Mark asked with a blank face.
“Oh, him? You saw us? Where were you, hidden somewhere?” Robbie frowned.
“Yeah, I guess I was. Are you friends with him?”
“God, I don’t know, I guess we are” he shrugged, trying to act naturally, but
in fact Mark’s odd tone and expressionless face started to freak him out.
“Oh… Since when?”
“Couple of years, I don’t know, why are we having this conversation? We should
be inside, snogging and touching and tearing our clothes off.”
“Uh, well, I don’t feel like doing that, right now. I-I don’t even know who you
are. You knew this bloke, this filthy drug dealer scum, and couldn’t even tell
me. You are... on drugs, and you couldn’t even tell me. That... that's fucked!
You hide stuff from me, but you want to marry me? I-I don't even know how I
feel about this."
"Mark, please--"
"I'm sorry, I-- " Mark turned around quickly to hide his teary eyes and rode
his bike home. He didn’t look back to see the pained expression on Robbie’s
face.
 
………………………
“Oh, God, Mark, you’re alright. I admit I panicked, though you were only gone
for an hour or so, but Howard kept saying you were alright, probably with
Robbie, which only worried me more--.”
“Jason, shut up and help your son, can’t you see he’s limping?”
“What is it, you hurt your leg?”
“My ankle, it's bloody killing me!”
Jason and Howard looked at each other concerced.
“Mark, where were you? Please, don’t tell me you and Robbie planned to do
something stupid and probably criminal, again. Is that how you hurt your
ankle?” Howard helped him get to the couch, while Jason went to the kitchen to
get some ice for Mark’s ankle.
“No. No, I went to see him, but... But here I am. And you shouldn’t worry
'cause I won’t sneak out to Rob’s in a while... Probably never again.” Mark
said, frowning.
“Ah, you had a fight" Howard smiled sympathetically.
“Yeah.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“I… I don’t feel comfortable talking about it with you”.
Howard felt like a punch in the guts. “I always wanted you to trust me, son,
you know, like a friend. That’s how I imagined me being a father, more like
being a friend. But I guess it's my fault you don’t see me like one.”
Mark felt guilty, and hurriedly said: “I do trust you, dad! Look, I-I’ll tell
you.”
“Do you want to tell me, too?” Jason approached them cautiously.
“Sure” Mark smiled, joyless.
Jason covered Mark’s swollen ankle with an ice bag, and listened.
 
………………………….
 
“Sorry, he doesn’t feel like talking to you.”
“B-but, please, just a minute, I need to talk to him, please! This is the
nineteenth time I call this morning—“
“And you’re driving us crazy! Look, Robbie, I have nothing against you, but if
Mark decides not to talk to you for a while, I think we should all respect his
decision, don't you think?”
“...Yes, sir. I understand.”
“Alright, then. Goodbye, Robbie.” Howard hung up the phone. He felt sorry for
the lad, but he also thought it would be good for him and Mark to be apart.
Robbie didn’t agree. He was determined to make Mark listen. He decided to go to
his house, and if he had to yell at Mark from the street, he would. Anything,
to make the kid listen.
 
…………………………………….
***** Chapter 6 *****
“He proposed you???” Gary seemed horrified.
“Yeah. And I accepted. But I won’t marry him, now. I just keep wondering all
the stuff I don’t know about him.”
Gary paced through Mark’s room, deep in thought. “You are aware you can’t get
married being underage, are you? Not without your dads' permission.”
“Oh. Didn’t think about that. But doesn’t matter now, does it?” Mark smiled
sadly.
Gary sat on his bed, at his side. “How’s your ankle?” he asked.
“Terrible. But my dad Jay gave me this painkiller-cream-thing.” Mark took a
cream tube from the nightstand.
“Can I?”
Mark nodded and handed the tube to his neighbour. Gary poured some of the cream
on his hands and rubbed Mark’s ankle carefully, while they listened to the soft
tunes coming from the stereo in Mark’s room.
“It’s a delicate matter, if he’s on drugs. He’ll need help.” Gary said.
“I know. I can help him, if he lets me.”
“Oh, I don’t think you can be of any help. He needs to see a professional, a
therapist. And go to a clinic.”
“And how long do people stay in those clinics?”
“It depends. But a long time, I guess. A very long time. Could you survive
without him?” Gary asked half joking.
“Yeah, I can.” Mark answered, though he wasn’t very sure.
Gary chuckled. “I guess you've learned your lesson and will never try to sneak
out again.”
“I know I’m not jumping from a window again.”
“Well, that’s good enough. Mark, you weren’t serious when you accepted his
marriage proposal, were you?”
“Y-yeah, I was. Why? Is it that crazy?”
“Yes, it is! Look at you, you’re just a kid! You should be enjoying your youth,
having some fun-- safe fun , not planning your future with a boy you barely
know.”
Mark flinched at that. But he had to agree; he barely knew Rob, didn’t he?
“Guess you’re right. Maybe it was all just a whim.” Mark covered his face with
his hands and sighed. “Maybe Rob was a whim of mine, just to annoy me dads.”
Gary watched him carefully. “I don’t know, Mark, you tell me”.
Mark covered his eyes with his arm and started to lightly hum along the song
that started playing on the radio.
‘Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling,
Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming,
Is this burning an eternal flame?’

Gary watched Mark, suddenly a bit moved.

‘I believe it's meant to be, darling,
I watch you when you are sleeping,
You belong with me,
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming,
Or is this burning an eternal flame?’

He stared at the walls, counting all the pictures of Mark and Robbie, and some
of Robbie alone, stuck with scotch tape to the posters of Mark’s favourite
footballers and bands. He felt sorry for Mark, but he was glad the lovebirds’
paradise started to fall apart. It was just a matter of time, he thought, until
Mark noticed why everybody alerted him about Robbie. That kid was trouble, and
he wasn’t good enough for Mark, as simple as that. For a second Gary wondered
if he was any better, seeing how he was trying to take advantage of Mark’s
vulnerable state, but he brushed that thought away from his head. He preferred
to see himself as Mark’s good friend, his counsellor, even his saviour, and
soon-to-be boyfriend.
He caressed Mark’s knee. “Can I try to make you smile?”
Mark opened an eye, curious. “I dare you to. I’ll even give you a prize if you
succeed.”
Gary searched in his jacket’s pocket and pulled out a pair of gloves. He then
started to intertwine the fingers of a glove with the other’s in an intricate
way. Finally he shoved a hand into this knot of gloves, and suddenly it looked
like a creature of some sort.
“Here.”
“What is it?” Mark looked at the improvised puppet with a smile playing on his
face.
“Why, it’s a penguin, of course!” Gary made the penguin puppet make a little
dance. “I got tons of hidden talents, Markie boy, I’m a surprise after
another!”
Mark laughed wholeheartedly. “You are, Gaz, you are!”
They both laughed. Gary took off the glove-puppet and placed it on Mark’s
nightstand. “There, he’ll keep you company. I have to go now.”
Mark swung an arm around Gary’s neck and kissed his cheek. “Here’s your prize.
Thanks, Gaz.”
Gary smiled and turned away before Mark could see his flushing face.

…………………………..

Robbie stared at Mark’s window from the street for a while. He thought he saw
this Gary lad there, laughing and talking to Mark.
“So, you feel like talking to this bloke but not to me, ‘ey, Markie?”. He
finished his cigarette and saw Gary coming from Mark’s house. “Well, hello,
Gary, how are we this morning?” Robbie said smiling sardonically.
“Oh, hello, Robert.” Gary went straight to his house, trying to ignore Robbie,
who followed him.
“You must know, seeing how close you are to Mark, that he doesn’t want to speak
to me. So I thought I’d ask you how he is. Tell me, ‘Gaz’, how is he?”
“Look, pal, I don’t like your tone.”
“What about this one, then?” Robbie said with a nasal voice.
“I don’t find you amusing at all. And if you cared about your boyfriend you
wouldn’t encourage him to sneak out from home in the middle of the night. He
could have broken his neck, jumping from that window. Fortunately he only hurt
his ankle.”
“Oh… is he alright?”
“Yes, he is. Now leave him alone, will you?!” Gary turned his back at him,
looking for his keys.
“You don’t tell me what to do.” Robbie whispered in his ear “I know your kind,
fatty; you’re only waiting for our relationship to fail, so you can lay your
chubby hands on him. But don’t waste your time, Mark has a very good taste in
men, as you can see. He wouldn’t even touch you with a stick.”
Gary turned around and tried to hit him. Robbie avoided the first blow, but
wasn’t fast enough to avoid the second one.
“Couldn’t see that coming, did you, Robbie?!” Gary smirked “You must think I
never get my hands dirty with scum like you, but I do, when I have to. I know
how to deal with punks like you. Now you leave Mark alone, you hear me? The
last thing he needs in his life is a junkie, lazy bum like you.”
Robbie swallowed hard and cleaned the blood off his nose. “You’ll pay for this,
you’ll pay.”
He wasn’t going to assume his defeat so easily. He crossed the street and
started to yell at Mark’s closed window. “Come on, Markie!!! I need to talk to
you!!! MARK!!!”
Gary shook his head and entered his house.
Mark, who witnessed everything, decided to give Robbie a chance. He opened the
window. “Alright, but you got only a minute.”
Robbie looked at Gary’s house and smiled before approaching Mark’s window.
“Aren’t you gonna let me in?”
“You can talk from there, can’t you?”
“Are you still mad at me? Why? Because you think I’m a junkie, is that it?”
Mark looked at him compassionately. “I know you are, Rob. There’s no point in
denying it.”
“But I’m NOT, not anymore. And please, Mark, stop looking at me with
compassion. I don’t like people feeling sorry for me.”
“... Look, I know you need help, Rob, and I’m not angry at you, I’m just hurt
because you didn’t trust me. But I’m not judging you, honest.”
Robbie smirked. “Oh, but you ARE judging me. Just like everybody else, like
your daddies, like your soddin’ neighbour. Did you really have to tell him? Did
you tell everybody? Does the rest of the neighbourhood know? I can help you
spread the news, Mark, look: I’M A FILTHY JUNKIE!! A FUCKING DRUG ADDICT!!! OH,
AND A LAZY BUM, TOO!!! There, happy now?”
“Rob, please, you’re making an arse of yourself.”
Robbie opened his mouth to reply, but he just angrily walked away.

………………………………

***** Chapter 7 *****
Robbie couldn’t sleep. He grabbed his walkman, put the headphones on and
listened to some random radio station, trying to distract himself. He wasn’t
angry anymore; he just couldn’t sleep knowing his relationship with Mark was
dangerously close to an end, if it didn’t end already. He really loved his
Markie, more than all his other friends, or the lovers he had before all put
together, and, boy! they were quite a few.
He got up from bed and took out from his jacket’s pocket the little package
Ramsey gave to him. He opened it and there they were: two gold rings, or at
least they looked like gold; he’ll have to check that before paying for them.
They were stolen, of course, but he felt he and Mark deserved those rings more
than the original owners, anyway. He wondered if he’ll ever have a chance to
give Mark his ring: he still wanted to marry him.
Rob lay on his bed, listening to some Hair Metal ballad they were playing a lot
lately, and toyed with the rings.
‘I guess this time you're really leaving,
I heard your suitcase say goodbye,
Well as my broken heart lies bleeding,
you say true love is suicide.

You say you've cried a thousand rivers,
And now you're swimming for the shore,
You left me drowning in my tears,
And you won't save me anymore.

Now I'm praying to God you'll give me one more chance, girl.

I'll be there for you,
These five words I swear to you,
When you breathe I want to be the air for you,
I'll be there for you...'

He thought about Gary: Were they such good friends with Mark? Was Gary really
trying to take his place in Mark’s life?
“Do you fancy him, Markie? Do you like him because he has money? He is quite
fit, though. I can’t blame you if you fancy him. I would, if I were you. Why am
I talking to myself? I should be talking to you; I should call you right now.”
He pulled out the headphones and grabbed the phone, dialling Mark’s number,
praying not to wake Mark’s fathers.
Mark picked up half through the first ring. “Rob?”
“Markie…”
“God, I so wanted it to be you.”
“Please, listen to me: when our friendship started to get more serious I
decided to quit everything, Mark, all the stuff I was taking. And I did. And,
believe me, you were a big help during those days. You were my only incentive
to stop taking all that shit. I really felt I didn’t need to cloud my brain
with drugs when we were together.”
“Um, ok.” Mark said with a strained voice.
“And yes, I know this lad, Ramsey, but he’s no monster, Mark, he’s just a lost
kid, a bit like myself. He never pushed me to take anything, and he helped me
many times making me favours, like the other day, when you saw us. I asked him
if he could get something for me, something I want to give you. Something
special.”
Mark was afraid this might be all a big lie, but he so wanted to believe it.
“Something special? Like what, a gift?”
“Mmm, yeah, you could say it's a gift.”
“Oh. What is it?”
“Can’t tell you. Must show you.”
“Ok, then show me. Tomorrow, after school. Can you?”
“I’ll wait for you in the park across the school, on the bench I put my
signature on.”
“Alright… Rob?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry. And I don’t care if you ever have troubles of any kind, I’ll stand
by you, ok? I just want you to trust me. But I’ll never leave you, Rob. You’re
like my soul brother, my soulmate.”
“Aww, Markie… Though you calling me a soul brother makes me feel a bit
incestuous. But I love you anyway.”
“I love you, too. Good night!”
“Night-night.”
Rob hung up and smiled. “Couldn’t see THAT coming, did you, Gary?”
…………………………

Before starting to talk they had a long snog; they deserved it after all.
“Mmm, it’s nice to kiss you here in the middle of nature. Do you remember when
we first kissed? It was here in this park.”
“Sure I remember. Now give me my surprise!”
“Oh, you, materialistic boy, you!”
Robbie searched for the little package in his coat, delaying the moment on
purpose. Mark was really excited, smiling with his tongue between his teeth.
“Oh, c’mon, c’mon!”
“Give me your hand.”
Mark did as he was told, and Robbie deposited two little cold objects on it.
Mark looked at these little metal things and his eyes grew wide.
“Oh, fuck, Robbie, we are really getting married, aren’t we?”
“Y-y-you don’t want to? I-if you changed your mind, i-i-it’s alright, I--“
“God, no, I haven’t. We are going to get married, Rob. We are going to get
married! Wow... Wow!” And then he remembered what Gary had told him. “Oh, but
we can’t. We need our parent’s consent to do it. And we’ll never get my dads
permission, that’s for sure. They never trusted you much, and with the stuff I
told them about you the other night… Sorry about that...”
Robbie swallowed hard. “It’s alright, Markie. We can wait” he smiled wickedly
“,or… we can go to this place, you know, where everybody gets married no matter
whom or what or anything, you know, it’s like Vegas. I bet they marry kids like
us all the time.”
“B-but, isn’t it crossing the border?”
“Yes. But is not that far. We could get there in like 12, 15 hours, by car.” He
smiled his cheeky smile “I got my car over there. With the tank full” and he
raised his eyebrows inquisitively.
Mark looked at the rings one more time before saying: “Let’s go!”

………………….

***** Chapter 8 *****

They’ve been driving for a while now, but their spirits where still very high,
both excited and anxious to reach their destination.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Robbie said, smiling.
“What’s funny?”
“The law says it’s ok for me to drive a car, or have a job, but I have to be
over 18 to get married.”
“Not where we’re going.” Mark kissed Robbie’s cheek and started stroking his
thigh.
“God, Mark! You have to tell me before you do something like that!” Rob smiled
but tried to keep calm and focused on the road ahead, not wanting his cock to
grow any harder.
“Aww, look, I gave you a stiffy! Lovely.”
“Lovely?! I have to concentrate here, it’s a complex and dangerous task,
driving.”
“Then let’s take a break.”
Without hesitation Robbie stopped the car at the side of the road, and Mark
didn’t waste any time; he unfastened Rob’s trousers and started to stroke his
fully hard cock.
They kissed eagerly, Robbie moaning into Mark’s mouth. It didn’t take long for
Rob, just a few more strokes and he came, shooting his load onto Mark’s hand.
“Jesus, you really wanted to."
“Sorry, is this whole marriage thing; I never thought it would be such a turn
on.”
“You’re right about that!” Mark opened his own trousers, pulling out his rock-
hard cock, while he licked Robbie’s cum off his fingers.
“Oh, you filthy little pixie! Here, let me…” Robbie grabbed Mark’s cock and
lowered his head, swallowing it in its entire length.
“Oh, God, fuck, yes!!! Oh, God!!!” Mark couldn’t last much longer, either;
Robbie’s mouth was too damn hot, and he sucked too damn hard. He came in a
matter of seconds.
Robbie swallowed and licked his cock clean, then fastened Mark’s trousers. They
kissed deeply, tasting each other’s cum.
“Mmm, that was hot.” Mark had that dreamy face Robbie adored.
“Alright, let’s keep going, then; we still have a long way to go.”

………………..

It was getting dark, and their bellies started to growl.
“I swear, if I don’t eat something right now I’ll die. Seriously, Mark. I know
you can go without food for days before you even notice you’re hungry, but
believe me: you are hungry, too. The first gas station we see it’s our next
stop.”
“ ’kay, babe.”
They stopped at a big diner, between coaches that loaded and unloaded their
charge of passengers. The place was a bit crowded and noisy, but
they managed to get quite a decent dinner in a quiet corner. Robbie started to
show signs of fatigue, so their conversation wasn't as excited as it was during
the previous part of the trip.
 
"I can drive for a while, if you want." Mark offered.
"Oh, that would be great, Markie, cause I'm knackered." Robbie was already
rubbing his eyes, unable to stay awake for much longer.
 
When they exited the diner the sky was completely covered in heavy dark-red
clouds. The air was sticky, humid and smelling of ozone. They got back in the
car, this time Mark behind the wheel, and almost immediately Robbie dozed off,
leaving Mark on his own.
 
He lost track of time very quickly. There was nothing interesting to look at;
at the sides, only grass and a few animals in the distance, and right
ahead, the black road which was almost deserted.
Robbie's steady breathing was the only sound in the car marking the passing of
time. Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out. Mark felt dangerously close
to falling asleep himself, and was very tempted to wake Robbie up just to have
someone to talk to. "Oh, but that would be cruel, wouldn't it? Look at him, he
needs some rest. Oh, dear, if I could at least listen to the radio... But that
would wake him up, too. Damn, I'm so bored!" he thought.
 
Then, almost at the same time, a thunder shook the glass of the windows, the
engine made a choking sound, and then died.
 
"Oh-oh."
 
Robbie stretched out and looked around, a bit disoriented. "Where are we?"
 
"In the middle of nowhere?"
 
"Why d’you stop, need to pee?"
 
"No, the… car broke down... I think."
 
"Uh?" Robbie watched how Mark tried to steer the motor awake in vain. "Alright,
let's see if we can fix it." he said.
 
When Robbie opened the door a big drop of water fell over his left shoe.
"Fuck."
 
The rain fell heavy and merciless while Robbie tried to fix the engine. Mark
watched him from his seat, but felt useless and a bit guilty in there, safe
from the rain when his lover was outside, dripping wet, so he joined him,
though he wasn't of much help.
 
"There's no use, this shit is dead. I'm so sorry, Mark."
 
"No, don't be!" Mark held him close. "We'll find a way to get there."
 
“Maybe we should think of getting back.”
 
“Uh-uh, no way.”
 
Robbie smiled at him, and tried to cover Mark's face from the rain. "Oh, you're
soaked wet! Get in the car, come on."
 
"What for? I'm already drenched. And so are you. 'Ey, we can take one of those
buses we saw at the diner!"
 
"Oh." Robbie searched for his wallet in the car and looked inside. "Uh, d'you
have some money?"
 
"Yeah, don't worry, I can pay us some bus tickets."
 
"It's a long walk to the diner, Markie. Are you sure you can manage, with your
foot all wrong?"
 
"My ankle's fine! Come on, let's go."
 
They grabbed Mark's school bag and their coats from the car, and there they
left it. "Nobody's going to bother stealing that piece of junk." Robbie said,
kicking one of the tires.
 
But the walk wasn't as easy as they've thought. The air, which was steady and
warm before the rain, became chilly and windy very quickly. The rain drops were
so heavy and fell so fast they felt like bullets dropping over them, and after
a while Mark's ankle started to sing its agonizing song again, making it
impossible for him to take another step. Robbie carried him piggyback and kept
walking, hoping for one of the few cars that passed by them to slow down and
take pity of them, offering for a ride.
 
Just as he thought about it, a car stopped right next to them, and the driver
lowered the window.
 
"Oh, god, look at you two! What do you think you're doing, walking under the
rain?" the man behind the wheel watched them sympathetically. 
 
"We... we need to... take a... bus." answered a breathless Robbie.
 
"A bus? Wouldn't a car ride be better?" he smiled at them, showing his teeth.
 
There was something about this man that made Robbie's skin crawl, but
he couldn't take a step forward. He put Mark on the floor again and consulted
him:
 
"What do you think, do we get into this guy's car? He looks creepy." he said
into Mark's ear.
 
"He does… but I don't think he's a crazy psycopath or anything... and we don't
have too many options, Rob. We'll never manage to get to the diner like this."
 
"We can try our luck with another car."
 
"Come on, Rob, who's gonna stop? We have to take what we can." He took Robbie's
hand in his and led him to the stranger's car, who had already opened an
inviting door.
***** Chapter 9 *****
"Thanks a lot, sir. We really appreciate this. Really." Mark said, frankly,
while they sat down on the back seats.
 
"No problem, boys. So, I'm heading this way, is that the way you're going?"
 
"Yeah, actually it is." said Robbie.
 
"Very well." The man studied them from the mirror. "I'm Nigel, by the way."
 
"Uh, I'm Rob, and this is Mark."
 
"Hi." Mark nodded and smiled politely. He was feeling awkward in the presence
of this guy, Nigel. There was something disturbing in the way he looked at
them, like he was trying to imagine how their bodies were underneath their
clothes. But the most disturbing thing was how cold his eyes were; there was no
sexual intention in his stare. He had the look of a surgeon studying a patient,
deciding where to dig his scalpel first.
Robbie noticed that, too. He reached out and held Mark's hand. They both
squeezed hard.
 
"So, Rob, Mark, what are you going to do once you get where you're going?"
 
Robbie wondered if he should answer the truth, but he had no time to make up a
lie: Nigel's eyes were demanding an immediate answer.
 
"We are going to get... married."
 
Nigel smiled a poisonous smile. "Oh, so that's where you’re going. Nice. You
are lovers, then."
 
"Y-yeah." came Mark's shaky answer.
 
Nigel accelerated suddenly. "And for how long have you been… lovers? You look
so young and tender."
 
"We've been together for a while." Robbie said, not wanting to give him more
information than necessary.
 
"A while. That's not very specific. Can you give me a clearer answer, Rob?"
Nigel spoke in a calm, almost emotionless voice.
 
"Uh, actually, sir, I think 'a while' is a good enough answer." Robbie didn't
want to play whatever game this guy was playing.
 
Nigel kept speeding up. Mark squeezed Robbie's hand and looked at him with big
deer eyes. Robbie tried to calm him down by smiling his 'everything's going to
be ok' smile.
 
"You're not very polite, Rob, my friend. Are you nervous?" asked Nigel.
 
"No, why?" Robbie lied.
 
"Because you look all jumpy. So, let me guess: You've known each other for...
two years, am I right?"
 
Mark didn't want to make him mad, so he nodded. "Yeah, that's right."
 
"Oh. But there's something new about the two of you... Let me guess again, I'm
good at guessing, you see... Umm, my guess is that you have just started to get
physical with each other, am I right? When was the first time you hadintimacy?"
 
"I think, sir, our intimacy is none of your busyness, sir." Rob said firmly.
 
"Oh, that sounded quite rude- You, Mark, you look like a nice, polite boy.
Answer me this: when was the first time he penetrated you? It wasn't long ago,
wasn't it? I can see it in your eyes, yes..."
 
"..." Mark opened his mouth but no sound escaped from it.
 
"You don't have to say anything, Mark." Robbie passed an arm around his
shoulders and held him close. He gave Nigel a nasty, piercing look, but the man
just smiled.
 
"Mark. You are the sensitive, vulnerable one. Look how your lover tries to
protect you. But there's nothing to protect you from, you are safe here. You
can trust me, Mark. I'm a friend." Nigel said in his icy tone, then turned the
wheel violently and the car left the road to get into a field at their right.
"And even if there was a danger ahead, there's nothing your friend could do to
protect you, Mark. Nothing."
 
"What are you doing?!! Where are you taking us?!!" Robbie yelled at Nigel,
staring at the endless nothingness around them.
 
"Oh, this? This is a shortcut, my friend." Nigel started to laugh, a cold,
humourless laugh.
 
"Slow down!!!" Robbie tried to open the doors, but they were locked. "Oh,
please, we'll give you all we have, but please, let us go!"
 
"Oh, Rob, that's exactly what I want: to take from you all you have."
 
Nigel stopped the car, turned around and looked at them directly in the eyes.
Robbie and Mark froze. Nigel unlocked the doors very calmly, then said:
 
"Run."
 
And so they did, hand in hand. Adrenaline and panic gave them a good kick of
energy, but the rain was making the ground muddy, sticky, slowing them down,
swallowing their feet at each desperate step, and Mark's ankle was still a
problem.
 
"Come here, Mark!!" Robbie took him in his arms, and kept running. He had to
reach for the road, but to do so he had to pass along Nigel's car. He made a
rodeo, but there was no way he could reach the road before Nigel caught them.
 
"Where is he!!!???" Mark asked.
 
"I--I don't know!!!"
 
The rain created a misty curtain which made it difficult to discern figures at
a distance, but then Mark saw Nigel; he was getting out of his car, holding a
long, shinny object in his hand.
 
"Ohmygod..."
 
Robbie turned around to see whatever Mark saw. "OH MY GOD!!!"
 
Nigel was holding a machete, and started to chase them down. "DO YOU REALLY
THINK YOU CAN OUTRUN ME!!!??? COME ON, ROB, LEAVE HIM BEHIND AND SAVE YOUR OWN
LIFE!!!"
 
Robbie wasn't fool enough to answer him, or heartless enough to do as he
suggested. He would reach the road, and then... then he... He had no idea what
he would do. There were no signs of life there, no cars, no trucks, nothing;
that meant: no help.
But he had to keep on running, even when he stopped feeling his legs and his
lungs were on fire, he had to run.
 
Nigel kept getting closer. And closer. And closer.
 
And suddenly, the sound of a car in the distance. Robbie and Mark wanted to cry
of joy. The car was approaching the scene very quickly. A few more seconds, and
help would be here! But Nigel's machete was already here. Robbie heard the
sound of the fast metal cutting the air at just an inch from his right ear.
 
Mark wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He was just too afraid to do anything
but stare, with wide eyes, how Nigel swung his machete over and over, playing
with them, cutting their clothes, scratching the skin underneath, but not
wanting to make real damage, not yet; Nigel was just starting to have fun.
 
The car was at sight. Robbie tried to cry for help, but his throat was too dry.
The car approached them, slowed down... 
 
"YES!" they thought " HELP IS HERE!"
 
And then the car started to speed up again.
"OH GOD, NO!"
 
Mark noticed something familiar about this car, but couldn't care less at the
moment. He just wanted to kiss his Robbie goodbye, one last time before the
machete cut their lives into little pieces.
 
But then, miraculously, the car, instead of passing by, made a quick turn and,
with a load bump, ran over Nigel.
 
Robbie and Mark stared at the scene openmouthed. Nigel's body still trembled on
the floor, a few meters away, but he wasn't a menace anymore.
 
"You ok!!??" Asked a familiar voice.
***** Chapter 10 *****
Robbie and Mark turned around. There he was, their saviour: no other than Gary.
"Do you need help, Rob? Here, let me--" and he took Mark from Robbie's arms,
placing him over the car's hood.
 
"Are you alright, Mark?"
 
"Y-yeah. A bit shaky." Mark tried to smile at Gary.
 
"That's understandable." He smiled reassuringly at him. Then he turned to see
where Robbie was; He was looking at Nigel's twitching body.
 
"Come on, let's go, Rob! We have nothing to do here."
 
Robbie went to the car, and looked at Gary with a blank face. "Thank you" he
said, and then got in.
 
 
--------------------
 
 
"Wow… That was quite an adventure you had. You know, that's why parents tell
their children not to get into stranger's cars. Hitchhiking is THAT dangerous."
 
Robbie was about to reply something about not needing a scold right now, but
instead he said : "Yes, it was a very stupid thing to do." He looked at Mark to
see if he had something to say, but he was looking at the window, melancholic.
 
"What's wrong, Markie? It's all over, we're fine now." Robbie caressed Mark’s
hair.
 
Mark turned and smiled at him sadly. "Yeah... I know it sounds silly, but I'm
sad because of our stuff. You know, we left everything in that creep's car."
 
"You're upset because you lost your schoolbag!?" Gary asked, stunned.
 
"No, of course not. But we lost... the rings, Rob."
 
"No, we didn't." Robbie shoved a hand in his shirt's pocked and there they
were: their two gold rings. Mark smiled a glorious smile.
 
"’Ey, what's that? Where did you get them from?" Gary asked with a judging
tone. He suspected the origin of those rings wasn't quite legal, if they were
coming from Robbie.
 
Rob just gave him a stern look.
 
"They're nice, really. Congratulations." Gary said, and he focused on the road.
 
 
They stopped at the same diner they stopped earlier, the one they wanted to get
to.
 
"Alright, I'll call Jason and Howard, they must be dead worried, and then we
can have a nice cup of tea.”
 
"And after that, what?" asked Robbie while he got off the car.
 
"I'll take you home, of course. You too, Rob, don't worry."
 
Robbie took Mark's hand. "Do you want to go home?"
 
Mark sighed. "I just want this whole thing to end. I'm tired, Rob. Why?"
 
"Nothing... But we are here, aren’t we? We've come this far... I mean, we could
take that bus over there..."
 
"Come on, you two, don't you want a piece of cake or something?" Asked Gary
from the diner's door.
 
"We're coming!" Robbie led Mark inside the diner, where they sat side by side
at a table next to the window. "It's alright; if you're tired we can go home.
But we did all of this to get married, and I'd hate to think we went through
all this shit for nothing. To go back home, just like that..."
 
"I don't know, Rob. We can just wait for a while. Maybe all this happened for a
reason."
 
Robbie looked down, but nodded. "Alright, then. We can wait... for the legal
stuff." he grabbed Mark's hands "But we can make our own special wedding, just
the two of us, like a symbolic thing. What do you say? You can't say no to
that! We can do it in a park or something."
 
Mark smiled and kissed him. "Yeah, I like that."
 
"Oh, there you are. I'm going to phone your parent's, Mark. Umm, Rob, you want
me to phone your place, too?"
 
"No, thanks."
 
"Alright then." Gary left them and walked to the pay-phone at the back of the
diner.
A pretty blonde girl was cleaning the tables next to the phone. She smiled at
him, and he smiled back, forgetting for a moment what he meant to do there. He
tore his gaze from the girl, to focus on the task ahead; he dialled Mark’s home
number. Jason’s worried voice answered right away.
 
“Yes?”
 
“Hi, Jay. Look, I found them.”
 
“Thank God!” Jason sighed. “Thank you, Gary, we can’t thank you enough for all
the times you've helped our Mark. So, what happened?”
 
“Umm, he and Robbie went to get married. You know that place-”
“Ah, that’s where they went. They still want to get married? I thought their
thing was over. I can’t believe Mark still wants this lad, after all Robbie is
a junkie--”
Gary writhed uncomfortable and interrupted him. “I don’t really think he is.
But anyway, we should –I mean, you and Howard should trust your son; he’s not
dumb.”
“No, he’s just fascinated with this boy.”
“I--I disagree. His feelings are deeper than mere fascination. Jason, I saw
these two together, I mean I really saw them, for the first time, and they have
such a… connection between them. I will never have that kind of connection with
Mark. And, yes, they’ve done some pretty stupid things in the last few days,
but who wouldn’t do stupid things for love? I mean, I believe if all of us just
allowed them to… be together, showing them our support, mayb--“
“Gary, Gary, me and Howard always allowed Mark and Robbie to be together. We
always support our son’s relationships.”
“God, Jason, I must disagree again! You never supported his relationship with
Rob. You even tried to separate them USING me, all this time knowing I’m
deeply- that I’m very fond of Mark. And I played along, because I was stupid
enough to think that I could make Mark fall for me. But it was wrong, Jay, it
was.”
“...I can’t believe you, Gary. What happened there? You changed your mind so...
radically!”
“W-What happened?.... Oh, God, what happened was… that… I’m a hero! And Robbie,
he’s a hero, too!”
“WHAT!?”
“He protected Mark with his life, and he proved their love is not… something
people like us should take lightly.”
“Protected Mark…? B-but he was the one who convinced Mark of running away to
get married in the first place, wasn't he?”
“I don’t think Mark needed to be convinced. Jason, you’re not blind, you know
I’m right.”
“…”
“Jason?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to cope with all this new information. Did you say Rob
protected Mark with his life?”
“Yup.”
“Protect him from what? And why are you a hero?”
“… God, Jay, I’m running out of coins. I have to hang up. I’ll tell you more
when we get there, alright? We’ll be there in a couple of hours.”
“Gary-“
“Bye bye!”
Gary hung up and sighed, relieved. He couldn’t believe it; he officially
changed sides and now he was a supporter of Mark/Robbie. If someone had told
him that this morning he would have laughed in their face. Although, that
didn’t mean he was totally cured of his Mark obsession. He still felt a sting
of pain every time he saw Robbie and Mark kissing or hugging.

***** Chapter 11 *****
Gary stood there for a moment, listening to the song coming from a radio
nearby:

‘Every rose has its thorn,
Just like every night has its dawn,
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song,
Every rose has its thorn…’

“Oh, I’ll be alright” he said to himself.
“Sure you’ll be” said a feminine voice at his back.
Gary turned around and saw the same girl who was cleaning the tables before,
smiling warmly at him. For some reason, something related to that smile and the
warmth in her eyes, he didn’t mind the intrusion of his privacy. If she
listened to his conversation with Jason over the phone, well, at least she
already knew some stuff about him, like the fact he lost his head over a boy.
“You’re with those kids?” she pointed at Rob and Mark’s table.
“Yes” he approached her to have a better view, and saw that her beauty was
really stunning and not a trick of light and make up.
“Are they alright? They look so shaky” she said with real concern.
“They had a rough night. Nothing a good cup of tea and some cake can’t fix” he
said, smiling.
“Tea and cake for you, too?”
“Yes. I’m Gary, by the way”. He felt like a cheap flirt, trying to pick up this
gorgeous girl in the middle of that strange night. Surely, there was something
wrong with his head.
“I’m Dawn.” She studied him, and apparently was very pleased with the sight,
because she winked an eye at him, before saying: “Tea and cake for three,
then.”
Gary smiled to himself, feeling lighter somehow. He returned to the table, to
find Mark and Robbie fast asleep against each other.

THE END
……………………

EPILOGUE

“Come on, you must trust me!” said Mark, with a wicked smile, his tongue
sneaking between his teeth.
“I do, honest! But does it have to be tonight?”
“Oh, Robbie, you’re such a wimp. Did you prepare for this?”
“Yes.”
“And do you believe me when I say it feels fucking amazing?”
“W-well, that’s pretty subjective.”
“Rob, turn around.”
“You’re such an abusive husband!” Robbie said melodramatically, but did as he
was told, lying face down on the mattress.
“And don’t you like that?” Mark sneaked a hand under Rob’s body and grabbed his
swelling cock, making him moan. “Oh, yes, you do! Your cock never lies.”
“I hate my cock.”
Mark chuckled and tossed himself over Robbie’s back, giving him a sloppy kiss
on the cheek. “You’re so pretty like this, looking all vulnerable.”
"I'm not vulnerable" Robbie said with a smile, and closed his eyes.
Mark kissed his way down Rob’s back.
Mark’s soft hands caressing him, and his hot breath against his damp skin, made
Robbie’s cock twitch, getting hard quite quickly. He tried to move his hips
against the mattress, looking for friction, but Mark held him steady while he
licked his lower back, getting closer and closer to his crack. He massaged
Robbie’s ass cheeks, opening them, and kissed tentatively over the delicate
skin. Robbie trembled as these new sensations travelled through his body. A
deep moan escaped his lips when Mark’s tongue made contact with his opening,
and he instinctively lifted his hips towards Mark, looking for more contact.
Mark smiled widely before delving into his task again. He circled the puckered
skin with the tip of his tongue, and then lapped, hungrily, over and over.
Robbie was relaxing quickly, allowing Mark’s tongue to enter slightly.
“Oh, God…” moaned Robbie.
“I think you’re ready.”
“I think I am.”
Mark took the bottle of lube and poured some on his fingers, slipping one
inside of Rob and waiting until his muscles relaxed again.
“How does that feel?” he asked, moving the finger in and out.
“Not bad. It gives me goose bumps. It's interesting, I guess”. For the tone of
his voice he wasn’t very impressed.
Mark pressed the tip of another finger against the tight ring of skin and
waited again until Robbie’s body admitted this new intruder.
“How about this?” Mark eased his fingers in and out, and then he hooked them,
rubbing Rob’s prostate; Robbie moaned and lifted his hips higher. “Yeah, that’s
what I thought.” He kept moving his fingers, slowly, making Rob whimper a
little.
“You can put another one, if you want.” said Robbie’s breathy voice, making
Mark’s cock swell even more.
“Oh, yeah?” Mark asked, teasingly.
“Yeah, please.”
And so he did. This time he wasn’t as delicate as before; he really wanted
these preparations to end so he could start fucking Rob. The idea of being
inside of him was driving Mark crazy.
Rob admitted this third finger very easily, and began to fuck himself on Mark’s
fingers.
“Wow, Rob, are you eager or what?”
Robbie only made a muffled noise in reply.
Mark withdrew his fingers and reached for the little slippery lube bottle. He
poured a good amount of lube over his cock, not wanting Robbie to feel
uncomfortable at all, and then he pushed into him.
He almost came right away; he felt ecstatic.
“Oh my God, Rob, I’m in you!” Mark was buried up to the hilt into Rob’s tight
and velvet heat. He shut his eyes close and absorbed the moment, caressing
Robbie’s back.
Robbie grabbed the sheets and smiled. “I’m feeling you, Mark. I’m feeling you…”
he repeated, like a chant.
Mark started to move when his self control returned to him. He fucked Rob
slowly, with firm thrusts, making him writhe and moan in a guttural,
animalistic way. Mark was really enjoying the moment; Robbie’s powerful body,
his dominant presence, his whole being, wide open beneath him, accepting him
in: giving in.
Robbie reached for his own cock and squeezed it; the sheet beneath him was
drenched in his pre-cum, which kept flowing in a constant trickle.
“P-please, Mark… more…” he whined.
Mark obliged, making his thrusts more forceful, picking up the pace. Now he was
pounding madly into him.
Robbie held his cock tightly in his fist, feeling a powerful wave building up,
very deep inside. He started to sob and moan, unable to control himself, and
then he came, shooting his load onto the sheets.
Mark felt Robbie’s muscles contract around him and smiled, satisfied with
himself, as he concentrated on his own orgasm; he speeded up his moves, digging
his fingers in Robbie’s hips, and came, moaning loudly.
He withdrew from Robbie’s body, collapsing at his side. They were both panting
heavily. Robbie trembled, his eyes closed. Mark held him in a tight embrace and
kissed him deeply, slowly, reassuringly. When they parted their lips, Rob
smiled.
“That WAS fucking amazing. God. I’m gonna feel that for a while.”
“Oh, yes, you will.”
Mark rubbed his nose against Robbie’s, making him giggle. “Good night, hubbie.”
“Hubbie, indeed.” Robbie touched the golden ring on Mark’s finger and smiled
warmly. “Good night, Markie boy.”
And they kissed one last time before dozing off.

 
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