Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/6188597.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      5_Seconds_of_Summer_(Band)
  Relationship:
      Michael_Clifford/Calum_Hood, Bryana_Holly/Ashton_Irwin
  Character:
      Michael_Clifford, Calum_Hood, Luke_Hemmings, Ashton_Irwin, Bryana_Holly,
      The_Clifford_Family, Mali_Koa_Hood, Tom_Payne, The_Hood_Family, Brian
      Dales
  Additional Tags:
      Meet-Cute, Alternate_Universe_-_Neighbors, Friendship, Friends_to_Lovers,
      Self-Esteem_Issues, Boys_In_Love, Boys_Kissing, First_Kiss, Kissing,
      Fluff_and_Angst, Light_Angst, Homophobia, unsupportive_parents, BUT_NOT
      KAREN_CLIFFORD_BECAUSE_I_LOVE_KAREN_CLIFFORD, Athlete_Calum, fetus
      michael, so_calum_is_20_and_michael_is_17, Smut, Fluff_and_Smut, Mild
      Hurt/Comfort, Sexual_Content, Explicit_Sexual_Content, Making_Out, Making
      Love, Grinding, Frottage, Hand_Jobs, Shower_Sex, Blow_Jobs, First_Time
      Blow_Jobs, Fingerfucking, Anal_Fingering, Rimming, Anal_Sex, First_Time,
      Loss_of_Virginity, Body_Worship, Insecure_Michael, Loving_Calum, Falling
      In_Love, Declarations_Of_Love, Coming_Out, Feminization, Feminine
      Michael, Comeplay, but_only_a_tiny_bit_so_it's_a-okay, Happy_Ending,
      Overstimulation, Anxiety, Coming_Untouched, Forgiveness, Reunions, Family
      Fluff, Marriage_Proposal
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-03-07 Completed: 2017-01-10 Chapters: 14/14 Words: 69746
****** that’s why you like it ******
by merlypops
Summary
     Everything I do is oh-so-wrong.
     That's why you like it.
     '“Like this,” Calum said softly, his breath warm on the back of
     Michael’s neck, making him shiver as he helped the golden-haired boy
     throw a proper punch. It was a lot more controlled but Michael barely
     noticed it. He was too focused on the warmth of Calum’s body soaking
     into his from behind and the way he could feel Calum’s smile pressed
     to his shoulder.
     “There,” Calum said softly, hands moving hesitantly as he stepped
     away, taking his warmth with him. “I think you’ve got it now, Mike.”'
     Calum starts doing workouts in the garden over the summer and Michael
     spends the whole time with his hand down his pants (until Calum takes
     matters into his own hands).
     Based on “Strange Boy” by Kerli.
Notes
     Deja, this one’s for you. You’re the Calum to my Michael.
     This fic is complete and utter filth (AKA smut and fluff)... and I’m
     honestly so happy about that. This fic essentially stemmed from me
     realising that Fensterln (a fic I wrote a few years ago now) was fun
     to write but probably not written that well… so I decided to do
     better.
     This is basically just Malum being all smutty and cute and sickening.
     I hope you guys will like it!
See the end of the work for more notes
***** I Prefer Green Eyes *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Michael was woken up by the sound of the removal truck beeping as it reversed
into the driveway next door. The house had been empty for weeks now, ever since
old Mrs. Bryant had moved away to be with her new boyfriend in Adelaide.
Michael hoped there would be someone younger moving in next door. Maybe someone
who would play video games with him! (Maybe someone hot.)
Michael hauled himself out of bed in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pyjamas.
His sandy-coloured hair was sticking up messily and his green eyes were puffy
with sleep when he padded out onto the landing to have a look through the hall
window. Michael’s palm flattened on the cool glass and his heart did a funny
little skip in his chest when he saw the man who was presumably his new next
door neighbour.
Michael said man but the guy couldn’t have been that much older than him
really. Michael was already sixteen - seventeen in about a month’s time, thank
you very much - and the (worryingly attractive) dark-haired man standing
outside now couldn’t have been much more than twenty.
Michael was seeing dark curls and chocolate brown eyes; he was seeing tanned,
tattooed skin and lean muscles; he was seeing broad shoulders and loose shorts
clinging to well-muscled thighs and - fuck - Michael kind of had a chub going
on now.
The window was cracked open to let a largely non-existent breeze in and, almost
like the stranger could tell that Michael was watching him, the older man
looked up.
“Oh,” he said, dimples appearing in his cheeks as he smiled. “Hi there. I hope
we didn’t wake you.” He gestured to the removal van as he said it, biceps
flexing as he thumbed towards the four workers loading his furniture off the
van.
He was moving in on his own? Michael felt his eyes widen in shock. This guy was
like a real adult or something!
“How old are you?” Michael asked stupidly, instead of saying something normal
like: “Welcome to the neighbourhood” or “Hi, my name’s Michael”.
The older man’s face crinkled up as he smiled but he wandered a little closer,
trainers almost touching the low stone wall that separated their front gardens.
Michael’s cat Teddy curled up on there sometimes in the sun. Michael loved
Teddy.
“I’m twenty,” the dark-haired man said easily, running a hand through his curls
and suppressing a smile when he saw Michael following the movement with wide
eyes. “What about you? Hang on, let me guess… Seventeen? Eighteen?”
Michael was glowing with pride now.
“I’m sixteen. Almost seventeen though,” the younger boy said but some of the
colour had faded from his cheeks now and his smile felt a little bit less like
it was about to crack his face. “What’s your name? Where did you come from?”
“Is this an interrogation?” the older man teased but his dimples were still
creasing his cheeks and Michael’s knees felt weak now. The guy was so, so nice
to look at. Living next door to him was going to be painful. The stranger was
probably the most beautiful person Michael (and his dick) had ever seen.
“My name’s Calum,” the dark-haired man said, still smiling. God, did he ever
stop? “I moved here for my new job. I just came out of university.”
“Oh cool,” Michael said, giving the stiff window a shove with his shoulder in
an attempt to open it wider. He squeaked when it suddenly creaked open and the
dark-haired man looked worried.
“Please don’t fall out of the window,” the guy - Calum - said anxiously.
“You’re way too cute to smush your face on the pavement.”
’He called me cute. Oh my god. Oh my god.’
Michael was about as red as Raphael’s mask now and, as he processed this, he
immediately flushed even brighter because getting caught by the most beautiful
godlike human being on the planet in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pyjamas was
probably not a good way to get the aforementioned human to fall in love with
him… or at least kiss him a bit.
Michael wasn’t fussy. Just pretty gay. (And cute - Calum had said so!)
“I’m not cute,” Michael stammered suddenly, voice several octaves too high,
cheeks still flaming. “I’m punk rock!”
“Very punk rock,” Calum said but he was smiling so wide now that Michael
thought he might be having heart palpitations. Calum glanced back guiltily
towards the removal van. “Well, I better go see if I can help them, mysterious-
cute-boy-who-won’t-tell-me-his-name. I’m sure we’ll catch up again soon
though.”
Calum loped away with an awkward wave that decidedly didn’t make Michael’s
heart melt and the dark-haired man was already halfway across the driveway when
the younger boy found his tongue.
“I’m Michael!” the golden-haired boy called as Calum looked back at him with a
smile on his face. “My name is Michael.”
“Nice to meet you, Michael,” Calum said, chocolate brown eyes crinkling again.
“I think living next door to you is going to be fun.”
Michael felt like he was walking on air as he stumbled back into his bedroom in
a daze.
He was thinking just the same thing. 
                                       *
It had been a month.
Calum had been living next door to Michael for a month now and they’d barely
spoken to each other yet. Michael thought Calum had probably had more
conversations with the younger boy’s parents than him now and it was very
unfortunate.
Michael was slightly heartbroken about it honestly; they only ever said hello
when they were leaving the house at the same time, just waved at each other
through windows.
The last time Michael had even seen Calum now had been several days ago; the
younger boy had been in the supermarket with his mum when he’d seen Calum, got
over-excited and dropped a bag of kiwi fruits. Michael had watched in dismay as
the fruits rolled all over the floor and Karen had batted him round the head
lightly with her shopping list, much to Calum’s amusement.
Maybe the older man was doing Michael a favour by actually having a social life
and going outside to interact with other humans every day.
Maybe he was saving Michael from a whole lot of embarrassment and the newly-
turned-seventeen year old should try to forget about him -
And then Calum started working out in his back garden every morning and all
thoughts of forgetting about the dark-haired man went out of the window.
Michael had started setting his alarm to wake up in time to see it now, even if
it was during his break from school. The golden-haired boy sat hunched up in
his swivel chair and watched out of the window as Calum strode out into the
early morning light, generally wearing nothing but shorts and a tank top
because even that early in the morning it was still hot.
Calum always did stretches first, muscles rippling beneath his soft-looking
tanned skin as he warmed up. It was usually getting brighter by this point, the
early morning sunlight just clearing the roofs so that Calum glowed golden.
Michael didn’t even care that he was being dramatic probably; Calum was an
honest-to-god masterpiece.
Next came the jogging. Calum ran laps up and down the garden like a puppy,
trainers moving lightly over the short grass. (Calum was always outside mowing
the lawn and it was rapidly becoming one of Michael’s favourite things, even if
it did give him hay fever because - sometimes if he was very lucky - Calum did
it shirtless. It was honestly the best thing ever.)
Calum started doing spotty dogs and high knee lifts after that, his breathing
loud in the quiet of the morning as his curls began to stick to his forehead
with sweat. Michael hadn’t known what those exercises were called before but
he’d looked them up recently (and if his hand had been down his pants at the
time, that was impossible to prove.)
After the jogging, Calum almost always went to take a drink from the plastic
bottle of water he brought outside with him. The back of his vest slipped up
when he bent down to pick it up sometimes, and Michael could see the muscles
flexing in Calum’s back where he was hot and starting to sweat.
Next came the push-ups and sit-ups (and possibly the sexual frustration but,
again, nothing could be proved). Michael liked watching Calum working out; he
liked the way his muscles tensed and relaxed, how the sweat made his skin
gleam… and also potentially how great his arse looked in the shorts he was
wearing. (Michael couldn’t deny that one but he wasn’t ashamed. He was only
human after all.)
Calum usually disappeared into his garage after that, where the sounds of
weights clinking and fists hitting a punch bag could be heard for the next
twenty minutes. Michael wished he could watch what Calum was doing in there but
the garage was on the wrong side of the house and Michael wouldn’t be able to
look in without one of those weird mirror things they used on submarines.
Periscopes, were they called? Michael wasn’t totally sure.
That was beside the point though. He didn’t want to get arrested or creep the
poor guy out. He just kind of… fancied Calum. A lot.
The dark-haired man was currently lying on his back now, having just finished
his sit-ups. His water bottle was empty and he looked tired as he lay there on
the sun-warmed ground. Michael’s emerald green eyes were probably a little bit
dark as he traced Calum’s tanned skin hungrily but it didn’t matter because
Michael was lurking half-hidden behind his curtains and there was literally no
chance of him being spotted.
For the second time since he’d moved in, Calum seemed to know that Michael was
watching him.
The dark-haired man looked up with twinkling eyes and dimpled sweetly at
Michael, winking when the golden-haired boy flushed scarlet at having been
caught spying. The younger boy took his hand out of his pants meekly, praying
that whatever he may or may not have been doing was hidden beneath the window -
and again, nothing could be proved. Michael was innocent or something.
Honestly.
Calum mouthed something at him but Michael had never been very good at lip-
reading. He screwed his eyes up against the sun as he looked at Calum, cupping
his eyes against the glass as the bright light outside momentarily dazzled him.
Michael was literally a vampire bat… who still had no clue what Calum was
saying. Damnit.
The younger boy motioned for Calum to wait before he glanced at the empty water
bottle and disappeared from his room. At least he wasn’t wearing Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtle pyjamas this time; instead he was wearing grey denim shorts and a
bright orange Dragon Ball Z t-shirt that was probably his favourite thing ever.
Michael was still squinting at the sunlight when he emerged into the garden,
peering around through his eyelashes until his eyes had adjusted to the light.
Calum was waiting by their fence, arms folded on top as he smiled at Michael,
his white teeth gleaming.
The fence still smelt faintly of creosote where Daryl and Michael had painted
it a few months earlier, and it came all the way up to Michael’s chin. It was
barely chest height for Calum though and Michael had this revelation where he
realised quite how tall Calum was… and broad… and muscular… and beautiful.
Michael sloshed water onto the paving stones when he reached up to pass Calum
the glass of water he’d collected for him from the kitchen. The older man’s
face creased into a smile, dark eyes crinkling as he took it.
“Thank you, Mike!” Calum grinned, downing most of it in one go. He let out a
contented sigh as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and Michael
tried to be more subtle as he watched the muscles in Calum’s tanned throat
working as he swallowed. (Michael’s excitement at being called ‘Mike’ by Calum
was hopefully suitably masked.) The older man smelt like sweat and grass now
from where he’d been lying down but Michael was still a tiny bit hard, and he
hoped Calum couldn’t tell.
“What were you saying when I was upstairs?” Michael asked to distract him.
Calum let out a soft peal of laughter.
“I just said good morning to you. Didn’t realise you couldn’t lip-read,” the
dark-haired man teased.
“Oh god,” Michael groaned, cheeks flaming. He laughed awkwardly. “Well, good
morning anyway.” Michael took in the sweat beading on Calum’s forehead and the
muscles relaxing in his broad shoulders as his expression softened. “Doesn’t
doing all this exercise make you tired?”
“Kind of.” Calum shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal and Michael smiled shyly as
he took the now-empty glass back, setting it on the rusting iron table nearby.
“You work out a lot,” Michael said. “Which I think is impressive, given how
fucking hot it is here.” Even for Australia, they were having a ridiculously
hot summer. Michael’s golden hair was sticking to his pale forehead with sweat
already and his t-shirt was clinging to his skin which was probably
ridiculously unappealing.
The sky overhead was vast and empty, stretching a vibrant blue as far as the
eye could see.
“Well, I’m bulking up,” Calum said defensively although his lips were still
tugging up into a smile. “For football, see? I’m captain of the team and I have
to be in top form for this season. It’s an important one.”
Michael had never been bothered about football before but now his mouth was
kind of watering as he imagined Calum running around a field in shorts; muscles
rippling, tanned skin glowing in the sunlight, dark curls pushed back out of
his face as his expression became determined, well-muscled leg drawing back to
boot the football into the goal.
“You watch me work out a lot,” Calum said suddenly, drawing Michael back. The
seventeen year old’s cheeks flushed scarlet and Calum suppressed his smile with
difficulty.
“Well, you’re fit,” Michael explained like it made perfect sense. He
immediately blushed brighter but, this time, Calum’s soft cheeks reddened too.
The older man smiled bashfully.
“Thanks,” he said and Michael covered his face with his hands, smiling stupidly
despite himself. “What’re you laughing at?” Calum asked curiously and Michael
shrugged.
“Your biceps are bigger than my future,” he said. Calum snorted, reaching over
the fence to brush Michael’s shoulder lightly with his knuckles. It was the
first time Calum had ever touched him and Michael felt like he’d been shocked
with an electric current. Calum’s skin was soft and warm, and Michael’s head
almost hit the fence when he stumbled.
“That’s probably not true,” Calum said teasingly, chocolate brown eyes
sparkling. “But, y’know, I do weights a lot too… in my garage. And I punch
stuff.”
“Stuff?” Michael teased, emerald green eyes twinkling. Calum smiled, teeth
sinking into his full bottom lip.
“Punching bags. Sometimes with boxing gloves, y’know?” The dark-haired man
grinned but he still looked faintly embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his
neck. His arm muscles flexed again and Michael wished he didn’t look so
undoubtedly noodle-like by comparison. “It’s a very good stress-reliever. You
should try it.”
“Honestly? Can you actually imagine me punching something and not breaking my
hand in the process?” Michael asked, eyebrow raised. Calum grinned, rolling his
eyes as he reached over.
“Give me your hand,” he said and Michael totally wasn’t shaking when he reached
out towards Calum with a questioning look on his face. The dark-haired man
curled Michael’s hand up gently, untucking his thumb and giving the younger
boy’s hand a comforting squeeze as he helped him form a fist. “Punch like that
and you won’t break your hand. I’ll show you properly sometime.”
“You promise?” Michael asked and Calum grinned, drawing his arm back over the
fence.
“Promise,” the dark-haired man confirmed. “I helped out at this summer camp
thing last year for extra credit and I had to teach all of the kids there about
self-defence and stuff. It’s cool honestly.”
Michael felt like Calum had punched him in the stomach as all of his breath
tore out of him in a small hurt sound. ‘All of the kids.’ Michael was kind of
pouting now and Calum was watching him with worried confusion, like he didn’t
know what he’d done wrong.
“I’m not a kid,” Michael pointed out, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt
nervously. “I’m seventeen. I’m not a kid,” he repeated for good measure. His
bottom lip was jutting out though and his pale cheeks were stained red. When
Michael finally dragged his gaze up unwillingly, it was to discover that
Calum’s puzzled expression was much softer.
“I know you’re not,” the dark-haired man said sincerely and it sounded like he
meant it. “I just mean that I’d actually have a clue what I was teaching you,
y’know? I wouldn’t be, like, talking rubbish to try and impress you or
something.”
Michael smiled despite himself, cherry-red lips tugging up into an unwilling
grin as he looked up at Calum, squinting against the sun.
“You’re already quite impressive,” the younger boy said honestly. "That's why I
was watching you." 
                                       *
Michael was just having an afternoon nap when he woke up to the sound of
laughter coming from the garden next door. His green eyes blinked open slowly
and he stared up hazily at the ceiling as he tried to wake up. Daryl was out
now but Michael could hear his mum singing in the kitchen as she did the
washing up. Michael padded out on bare feet to see her.
“Your friend Calum’s outside,” Karen said as she put a plate in the drying
rack. “He’s with his friends. Why don’t you go and say hello?”
“Calum’s not my friend,” Michael said automatically, hoping (probably in vain)
that his bitterness was hidden. “He’s twenty. I’m only seventeen. I don’t think
it counts.”
“Your father was four years older than me when I met him,” Karen said
cheerfully as she began to wash a glass. “And now he’s my husband.”
Michael spluttered indignantly from the doorway, folding his arms over his
chest as he bristled.
“I thought you just said he was my friend! And now you’re talking about
marriage? I’m not going to marry Calum!” Michael exclaimed, flushed bright red.
The dark-haired man looked over at that, winking at Michael although he was
apparently doing his best to pretend to be offended anyway.
That was when Michael realised the window was open.
“Oh my god,” Michael breathed, mortified. “Kill me. Just drown me in the
washing up bowl. Please. If you love me, you will.”
Karen laughed. “Maybe later,” she said. “Go outside and get some vitamin D
first. We can discuss your untimely demise tonight.”
Michael was sulking when he stamped out into the back garden, easing his mobile
phone out of his pocket. The glare of the sunlight was way too bright
considering he hadn’t put any sunscreen on so Michael headed over to the shade
of the eucalyptus trees in their back garden, towering up into the cloudless
blue sky with their silvery bark. Michael sat down against the trunk of one of
them, opening the Twitter app on his phone so that he could low-key stalk Harry
Styles.
Calum was still in the garden, dressed only in a pair of three-quarter length
denim jeans and a backwards snapback. He had so many tattoos and it was only
when Michael was scanning the feather inked into the older man’s collarbone
that he realised his phone screen had gone black.
There were three other people in the garden with Calum and Michael’s green eyes
drifted over to them unconsciously when the dark-haired man disappeared into
the house to get something.
There were two guys and one girl, and all of them looked about Calum’s age. A
curly-haired man was standing at the barbecue, glasses sliding down his nose as
he grilled burgers and hummed along to whatever song was playing on the radio.
Michael figured the pretty blonde lady standing beside him was the curly-haired
man’s girlfriend; she was dressed in a pretty blue sundress that Michael’s mum
probably would have liked and her sunkissed skin was glowing in the sunlight.
The other guy was taller than the rest of them and his shoulders were even
broader than Calum’s. The man had blond hair and piercing blue eyes, and his
lip-ring caught the sunlight when he smiled upon Calum’s return, throwing his
arm easily around the dark-haired man’s shoulders.
“C’mon, Cal,” the blond man grinned, voice carrying into the golden-haired
boy’s garden. “Ash says the burgers are almost ready.”
Michael scowled. He was trying hard not to be jealous but… but it looked like
this blond man might be Calum’s boyfriend and… yeah, okay, Michael was probably
going to die alone with only his worryingly large collection of Tamagotchis for
companionship.
Michael wasn’t even sad now. He wasn’t even going to cry later so shut up.
Calum looked up suddenly, maybe like he’d glimpsed Michael wilting out of the
corner of his dark eyes. The older man’s expression softened as he came over to
the fence, pausing to wave at Karen who was still watching very obviously
through the window before he looked over at Michael, beckoning him over. The
golden-haired boy was still frowning distractedly when he got to his feet. “Are
you okay, Mike?” Calum asked gently, his dark puppy eyes worried. “You look
sad.”
“I’m not sad,” Michael grumbled. “You should go back to your boyfriend. You
don’t want your burgers to burn.”
“What?” Calum asked blankly, staring at Michael with absolute confusion for a
moment before his expression cleared. “Oh, do you mean Ashton? No, he’s going
out with Bryana.”
Michael gave Calum a funny look and the dark-haired man gawped at him for a
moment before he pulled a face (which, admittedly, did make Michael feel
better). “Oh wait, do you mean Luke? God, not a chance!”
The blond man - Luke - looked up at the mention of his name, blue eyes
glittering as he trotted over to the pair of them. Bryana looked up too and she
nudged her boyfriend Ashton, nodding towards Michael where he could just about
see over the fence. The curly-haired man had dished the burgers up now and it
looked like there were a few extra. Michael’s mouth watered despite himself.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Bryana said, smiling encouragingly at him. Michael went
red because, sure, maybe he was gay but the blonde woman looked like a real-
life angel. “What’s your name?”
“This is Michael,” Calum said, chocolate brown eyes twinkling.
“Oh, Cal’s told us all about you,” Ashton said kindly, much to Calum’s apparent
chagrin. He had dimples when he smiled too. Luke’s expression was almost
challenging now but there was something faintly teasing in his eyes all the
same. Michael kind of wanted to crouch down and hide behind the fence. He hated
being the centre of attention.
“You weren’t kidding about how cute he is,” Bryana said teasingly, nudging
Calum in the bare ribs with her elbow. Michael’s eyes flickered down, took in
the tanned skin and the tattoos… swallowed audibly as he dragged his gaze back
up to Calum’s beautiful face.
Luke stuck his tongue out at Michael but he also winked at him which made
hating him hard. He was only teasing. Michael should stop being such a gigantic
five year old for getting upset about it probably.
“Yeah, Mikey is pretty cute,” Calum said and Michael actually had to hold onto
the fence upon hearing that because had Calum seriously just said that to him?
God, Michael could die happy now; he wasn’t even thinking about Tamagotchis
anymore.
Luke gave Michael a knowing look as he wrapped his arm around Calum, blue eyes
twinkling when Michael immediately started sulking again. It wasn’t fair that
Calum was always separated from him by a fence - or some runaway kiwi fruits -
and Luke got to hug him. Michael was almost at Hulk levels of (probably
unrighteous) jealous anger right now.
“What’s wrong, Michael?” Luke asked cheerfully, his voice practically a chirp
as he beamed at the younger boy who was beyond disgruntled. Calum rolled his
eyes, shoving Luke off goodnaturedly, even as the blond man pressed a
purposefully sloppy kiss to his friend’s cheek.
“Don’t be a dick,” Calum said, fighting a smile when Luke pretended to be
offended. “Sorry, you’re not my type, Hemmings. I prefer green eyes.” Calum’s
gaze flickered over to Michael’s overheated face and the younger boy stared at
him, vaguely flailing to death now because how was this even happening?! Calum
was hot and amazing and Michael was… not.
“Better go dish out the burgers,” Ashton said into the slightly strained
silence that followed - only strained because Michael was sort of
hyperventilating now but that was okay; no one seemed to be judging him. “You
want to help me, you little shit?” the curly-haired man asked Luke, snagging
the blond man’s collar and hauling him away.
Bryana smiled fondly as she followed them, leaving only Calum standing by the
fence.
“I’m sorry about my friends,” he said, soft cheeks heating a little as he held
onto the top of the fence with both hands. “They can be a bit full-on… Luke
especially.” Michael forced a shrug and Calum bit his lip, watching the younger
boy carefully. “Come round the front, okay? I’ll let you in. You look like you
need a burger, Mikey.”
“Okay,” Michael murmured, smiling despite himself. “But only if you teach me
how to punch afterwards. Deal?”
Calum smiled, dimples creasing his cheeks as he reached to give Michael’s
shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Deal.”
                                       *
Ashton was a good barbecue chef. (His words, not Michael’s.) He’d burnt the
burgers just enough that Michael wasn’t worried about food poisoning but he
could still kind of taste the beef. Considering how Daryl’s barbecued food
tasted like it had been tossed into a volcano, Michael was going to consider
this one a win.
Karen had given her son a knowing look when he’d passed through the kitchen
with flaming cheeks. She’d said: “Oh, I thought he wasn’t your friend?” Michael
had just rolled his eyes at her and she’d reached to flatten a lock of his
golden hair carefully. Michael loved his mum.
She was back in the house making dinner for Michael’s dad now though and the
golden-haired boy was sitting in the garden with Calum’s friends. Bryana was
sitting cross-legged on the grass beside him, petting his hair like he was a
tiny kitten while Ashton watched them fondly. Calum and Luke were chatting
about football, lounging easily on the grass too, muscled arms stretched out
behind them to support them. Calum’s wrist was warm where it was brushing
lightly against Michael’s thigh and the younger boy kept feeling himself
getting distracted by it so answering Bryana’s curious questions about how his
classes at school were going was actually surprisingly difficult.
“We’re going down to that Grandma’s Bar place later,” Ashton said when the sun
began to set. The sky was lavender overhead now, and Michael was sleepy and
content, full of food as he sat in the grass. Somehow during the last hour his
head had fallen to rest on Calum’s broad shoulder. Neither of them mentioned
it.
“That’s the place that does jaffles, right?” Luke asked, looking up hopefully.
“God, I love jaffles.”
“Dude, you just ate like four burgers,” Calum grinned, kicking Luke lightly in
the shin because he was apparently too comfy to get up. “You can’t want toasted
sandwiches too.”
“Cal, I always want toasted sandwiches. A body like this doesn’t just happen
overnight,” Luke joked, patting his totally flat stomach stupidly. Michael went
red, his arms folding over his own soft belly protectively. Maybe he shouldn’t
have eaten all those burgers. Calum was probably going to think he was such a
pig now.
“You talk so much shit, Hemmings,” Calum said but he was grinning. “I’m not
gonna go out tonight though. I’m staying in with Mikey instead. I’m gonna teach
him how to throw a punch.”
“Don’t forget to keep your thumb outside your fist,” Ashton said helpfully as
he got to his feet, helping his girlfriend up. Bryana smiled as she brushed her
dress down before reaching to pick a strand of dried grass from Ashton’s curls.
“I hope I get to see you very soon,” Bryana told Michael, giving him a soft
smile before she stooped to draw Calum into a hug. “You take care of yourself.
Give us a call if you need dinner, okay? I know your cooking skills leave a lot
to be desired.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Calum grinned but he pushed himself to his feet too,
grabbing Luke’s extended hand and hauling the blond man up. “Go on now. You
guys have a good time.”
Michael waved goodbye to them timidly but one of his arms was still wrapped
tight around his tummy and his face fell when he saw Luke lean in close to
mutter something in Calum’s ear. The dark-haired man’s cheeks flushed red but
his expression was soft when he looked back over at Michael as his friends let
themselves out of the house.
The seventeen year old was sitting forlornly on his own now, head bowed as he
bit down hard on his bottom lip. Luke had probably teased him, made jokes about
how he was just a stupid little kid. Calum probably agreed with him.
Michael swallowed past the lump in his throat when Calum came to a stop in
front of him, bare feet sinking into the grass. Michael wasn’t wearing shoes
either and his feet looked really soft when he frowned down at them. They
looked like baby feet probably.
God, maybe Calum would be better off with someone like Luke. He had broad
shoulders and painfully pretty blue eyes, and he made Calum laugh.
‘You’re not my type, Hemmings. I prefer green eyes.’
“You look like a grumpy kitten,” Calum said and Michael shrugged as his
expression became sulky, refusing to look up at the older man. It wasn’t the
most inaccurate thing he’d ever been called but it didn’t exactly sound punk
rock; Michael didn’t know if he should be offended or not.
“I have a kitten,” Michael said suddenly before he pulled a face. “Well, he’s
really more of a cat now. He’s this little siamese one that hates everyone. He
hisses at people.” Michael’s expression was softer as he drew his knees up to
his chest, wrapping his arms around them. “His name’s Teddy.”
“Teddy sounds cute,” Calum said seriously but he reached down to poke Michael’s
pouty lips lightly with his fingertip and the golden-haired boy briefly
considered biting him, just because. “You still look like a kitten. Not one
that hisses at people though, I don’t think.”
Michael hissed at Calum just because he could and, even as the dark-haired man
let out a soft bark of laughter, Michael let his chin fall to settle on his
knees. His cheeks flamed and he swallowed harder past the lump in his throat.
Calum hesitated before he dropped back down onto the grass beside the younger
boy, arm finding its way carefully around Michael’s shoulders.
Calum was warm and he smelt good - a mixture of smoke from the barbecue and his
shower gel that smelt a little like lemons - and Michael let himself melt into
it despite himself.
“Y’know… Luke just said something to me,” Calum said slowly and Michael tensed
up.
“What?” he asked, looking up at Calum with wide emerald green eyes. The dark-
haired man gave him a comforting squeeze.
“He said he thinks maybe you have a crush on me.” Calum’s smile was vaguely
self-deprecating and Michael pulled a face.
“I don’t like Luke,” he decided. Calum snorted, free hand falling down to run
over the short grass. The sky was rapidly darkening overhead now but Michael
could see two gulls wheeling in the emptiness, calling to each other as the
night approached.
“Oh please, everyone likes Luke,” Calum grinned, dimples creasing his cheeks
suddenly when he saw Michael fighting not to smile. “And I never said it wasn’t
reciprocated.” Michael gawped at him wordlessly and Calum laughed. “You wanna
try punching that punch bag now, Mikey?”
Michael mumbled something along the lines of: “Actually I’d much rather punch
Luke instead” and it was worth it when Calum laughed, the sound so delighted
that it made the younger boy’s heart pound unevenly in his chest.
“C’mon, grumpy kitten,” Calum grinned, rising and helping Michael up with an
arm around his waist. “Do you remember what I showed you?”
It was dark in the garage until Calum flicked a switch and the light of a naked
bulb overhead illuminated the space. To one side, there was a rack of weights
and a standing punch bag, much like the ones boxers used to train with in the
films Michael sometimes watched with his dad. On the other side of the room,
there was a low sofa covered with blankets, a worn-looking rug and a TV with a
crate of DVDs beside it. There was even a little fridge nearby that probably
had beers in it, if the few empty ones on top of it were any indication.
“Sure. Don’t tuck my thumb inside, right?” Michael checked, showing Calum. The
dark-haired man grinned when he saw Michael’s fist.
“That’s perfect! Okay, we won’t use the gloves the first time - but don’t do it
too hard, okay? I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“Okay,” Michael said, coming to an awkward stop in front of the punch bag and
shooting Calum a pleading look before he flung his arm out uneasily, his fist
smacking uselessly against the hard material. “Ow,” Michael mumbled, shaking
his wrist out. Calum frowned, stepping up behind him and reaching around to
help Michael form a better fist.
“Like this,” Calum said softly, his breath warm on the back of Michael’s neck,
making him shiver as he helped the golden-haired boy throw a proper punch. It
was a lot more controlled but Michael barely noticed it. He was too focused on
the warmth of Calum’s body soaking into his from behind and the way he could
feel Calum’s smile pressed to his shoulder.
“There,” Calum said softly, hands moving hesitantly as he stepped away, taking
his warmth with him. “I think you’ve got it now, Mike.”
“Thank you,” Michael said shakily. He smiled at Calum and the dark-haired man
grinned back at him, gesturing towards the sofa hesitantly. It was lower than
it looked when Michael dropped down onto it and he let out a shocked little
squeak that seemed to make Calum’s heart melt as fondness bloomed on his face.
“Luke didn’t upset you today, did he?” Calum asked quietly as he sat down too,
cross-legged as Michael drew his knees up to his chest again. “He kids around
sometimes but he wouldn’t actually want to hurt your feelings… so if he upset
you then please tell me so I can tell him to quit being an arsehole.”
“It’s fine,” Michael promised but his voice sounded faint and he was still
worrying that Calum thought he looked fat… that he thought Michael was just a
stupid little kid who should stop clinging to him. “It doesn’t even matter.”
“It does,” Calum said instantly, reaching out to pat Michael’s pale ankle
gently because it was the only thing he could reach. “He’s just silly, right?
I’ve known him since I was five years old and he’s ridiculous but… y’know, he’s
one of my best friends... but he doesn’t mean what he was doing today. He’s
just a tease.”
“It’s okay,” Michael said but he was biting his full bottom lip now, worrying
it between his teeth before he glanced up at Calum cautiously. “I just felt…
really young.” Michael shrugged half-heartedly, looking away as his brow
creased with a frown. “I haven’t even kissed anyone yet,” Michael said with a
humourless laugh. “I must seem like such a fucking baby… I’m just a little kid
to you.”
“Not at all.” Calum sounded like he meant it but Michael didn’t want to look at
him. He just pulled his knees tighter to his chest and blinked back what
definitely weren’t tears. “I haven’t kissed anyone and had it mean anything,”
Calum added with a slight shrug. “So I guess we’re in the same boat, huh?”
“Stop saying things like that,” Michael grumbled, hiding his relieved smile in
his knees. “Stop being nice to me.”
“Can’t help it,” Calum said easily, settling back more comfortably on the sofa
as Michael relaxed against him, curling up like a little cat. “You’re too cute.
It just keeps happening.”
“Stop,” Michael whined but he was burying his smile in the warm skin of Calum’s
bare shoulder now and Michael liked feeling the muscles shifting against his
full lips. It made him want to kiss Calum kind of… but he shouldn’t do that
probably.
Michael had no clue how to kiss someone. It would just be embarrassing.
“I don’t think you’re a little kid at all,” Calum said suddenly, apparently
still dwelling on what the golden-haired boy had said. Michael looked up at him
with interest, emerald green eyes glittering in the dim light. Calum shrugged,
holding his gaze steadily. “I don’t think you’re a baby,” he said calmly.
Michael’s cheeks coloured and he suppressed his smile with difficulty.
“I’m very mature for my age,” Michael lied, thinking about the drawer of
Tamagotchis he had at home and snorting with ridiculous laughter. “I even know
how to make mac and cheese.”
“Mac and cheese, huh?” Calum teased, scooting forwards to press a tiny kiss to
the corner of Michael’s mouth. The younger boy stiffened in shock but his whole
face lit up and it made Calum giggle. “Mac and cheese is my favourite.”
“I’ll make you mac and cheese,” Michael said instantly, voice faint. His
fingertips were trembling when they rose to brush his lips but Calum was kind
enough to pretend that he hadn’t noticed. “I’m really good at making it.”
“Y’know what? I might actually take you up on that,” Calum said, dimples
creasing his blushing cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he
looked down but he was still smiling. “Bry wasn’t joking when she said I can’t
cook. All I know how to make is stir-fry. I mean, it’s healthy but… I don’t
know… There’s not much variety when you’re as lazy as I am.”
“You? Lazy? As if!” Michael scoffed, rolling his eyes fondly. “You work out
every single day!” The younger boy’s face fell suddenly and he remembered how
he’d felt earlier as his hands slipped to cover his stomach. “I don’t work out
ever. That’s why I’m all fat.”
Calum made a small hurt sound as his arm slipped around Michael’s shoulders
again.
“You’re soft,” Calum said quietly, brushing his lips chastely against Michael’s
overheated cheek. “It’s cute. You’re cute.”
“Oh,” Michael breathed and his hand stopped shaking when he curled his fingers
hesitantly around Calum’s jaw, tilting his head to press a gentle kiss to the
older man’s full lips. Calum sighed contentedly as his long fingers threaded
gently through Michael’s golden hair, stroking his scalp lightly. The younger
boy was practically purring when Calum drew back with a drunk-looking smile
tugging at his lips.
“You really are like a kitten,” he said softly before his cheeks suddenly
coloured as he smiled, biting at his lip. “Y’know, I didn’t think this was
going to happen.”
“Me neither,” Michael breathed but he was smiling so wide now.
“You really don’t want to marry me, kitten?” Calum laughed, smile becoming
teasing as he nudged Michael lightly in the ribs. The golden-haired boy
groaned, burying his face in his hands.
“Shut up!” Michael grumbled, flushing the colour of a beetroot now. “I’m not
marrying anyone! I’m seventeen! I’m just a kid!”
“I thought you weren’t a kid,” Calum grinned, tilting Michael’s chin up gently
with his fingertip to press a soft kiss to the younger boy’s mouth. Michael’s
cheeks heated up again.
“I’m very indecisive,” the golden-haired boy joked as his hands slipped up to
cover Calum’s bare shoulders. Michael’s head felt like it was spinning with how
elated he felt now. “It’s getting to be a problem.”
Calum’s bark of laughter was loud in the garage as he pulled Michael into a
hug.
Calum’s warmth kept the darkness at bay.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought by leaving comments and kudos :)
     I'm going to upload the next few parts soon!
***** You're My Hero *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi guys! I'm really loving writing this fic so I hope you guys will
     enjoy it!
     Lots of plot keeps worming its way into the plan so I'm genuinely
     excited for you all to read it :)
     Enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It was early morning - almost a whole month after that evening in the garage
with Calum - and Michael was sitting in the kitchen with his parents. There was
a jug of lavender on the table and the calming fragrance saturated the room as
Michael spooned up his coco pops, chin propped up on his hand as he gazed at
Calum dreamily out of the glass doors.
The dark-haired man was doing high knee lifts now, dark curls tumbling artfully
across his sweaty forehead, chocolate brown eyes focused as he moved. Michael
could just hear the older man’s light footfalls through the doors. Calum’s
movement kept catching the younger boy’s sleepy emerald green eyes.
Calum would do sit-ups soon probably which unfortunately Michael wouldn’t be
able to observe from this angle… Maybe that was a good thing though. He didn’t
exactly want to get hard when he was sitting with his parents.
Calum glanced up suddenly, dimples creasing his cheeks as his eyes flashed to
the younger boy’s face. Calum winked and Michael choked on his cereal.
Karen’s eyes were twinkling when she looked knowingly at her son but Daryl
didn’t look particularly amused. He dropped his toast instead, scowling towards
the garden. Calum looked away, cheeks flaming.
“I don’t like how much time you’re spending with him,” Daryl said coldly.
Michael hunched his shoulders up, frown creasing his pale face as he spooned up
his coco pops more quickly, spluttering when the milk went down the wrong way.
Karen looked worried as Calum passed by again outside.
“Calum’s just Michael’s friend, honey,” Karen said, soft hand settling gently
on her husband’s wrist. The fact that Michael didn’t know if that was a lie or
not bothered him a lot. “They’re just friends. He’s been showing Michael how to
defend himself.”
“Like boxing,” Michael whispered, voice slightly breathless as he let his spoon
fall down into the mostly empty bowl. “Just like those movies you like.”
“Boxing, huh?” Daryl looked mollified but the smile he shot at his son kind of
made Michael want to curl up and hide. He felt like he was lying to his dad,
even though it was nothing but the truth.
Maybe Daryl would like his son more if he thought Michael was more like him.
A tiny sigh escaped the golden-haired boy as he finished his apple juice,
trying to ignore how his hand was shaking slightly with stress. He met his
mum’s eyes over the rim of his glass and her expression softened with sadness.
She was the only person Michael had come out to so far. The seventeen year old
probably wouldn’t be telling his dad any time soon.
Calum glanced up towards the house as he straightened up, presumably heading
towards the garage. The tightness of his expression faded when he saw Michael’s
eyes twinkling at him from behind the lavender and Calum smiled crookedly as he
ducked out of sight.
Michael’s cheeks heated and he bit his full bottom lip hard to suppress his
smile.
As soon as he could escape, Michael would go round and see Calum later
probably. Usually he just watched while the older man finished his weights, all
the while hoping that maybe Calum would help him practise punching afterwards.
That was Michael’s favourite part of the day: standing with his back pressed
against the warmth of Calum’s usually-bare chest, the older man’s lips brushing
against his neck and making him shiver as he righted Michael’s stance with his
foot carefully spreading Michael’s legs, helping him balance.
(If it sometimes ended in awkward boners on Michael’s part, Calum didn’t have
to know. That was the upside of him always standing behind the younger boy.)
Michael always went home when it was time for Calum to shower though. It was
almost like an unspoken rule now. Calum put the boxing gloves away, ruffled
Michael’s golden hair and sometimes even dropped a kiss onto the top of his
head, and then the younger boy went home and Calum continued with his day.
Michael wanted more though.
He just didn’t know how to ask for it.
                                       *
It was another clear sunny day. Michael was sweaty and slightly pissed off,
stomping home from school with his jumper tied loosely around his waist and his
golden hair sticking up messily from having PE last lesson.
Michael hated PE.
He always got picked last for sports and it usually didn’t bother him but some
of the kids had laughed today when he was the only one left sitting on the
sidelines during football, and it just felt shitty. Michael’s cheeks heated up
just thinking about it and he was scowling down at the pavement so fiercely
that he didn’t even see the runner approaching until it was too late.
They collided hard and the next thing Michael knew, he was seeing a vast
expanse of blue sky, his elbow was aching where it had hit the pavement… and
Calum’s worried face was swimming above his own.
“Ah shit,” Calum groaned, tearing his earphones out and shoving them into his
pocket with his iPod before he reached for Michael. The golden-haired boy was
scarlet now, so damn embarrassed that he’d crashed into Calum like that. God,
he was so stupid.
“Are you okay, Mikey?” the older man asked anxiously, large hands fluttering
uselessly as he brushed Michael’s sweaty hair back and drifted down to his sore
elbow. Michael groaned when he saw the tiniest bit of blood smeared there. His
stomach turned and he looked away, biting his bottom lip hard. He hated blood.
“Ouch,” Michael breathed and the older man’s beautiful tanned face crumpled.
“God, I’m so sorry,” Calum whispered, looking floored. His arm slipped around
Michael’s waist and the younger boy didn’t quite have enough willpower to
insist that he was fine to walk unassisted. Calum’s body - even as sweaty as he
was - felt too good against his own. “Come back to my place, okay? I have
plasters and stuff. I’m so sorry honestly. I feel terrible.”
“It’s fine, Cal,” Michael said reassuringly, cheeks only colouring at the
familiarity of the nickname after he’d already spoken. Calum’s face was
reddening and Michael looked away, biting back a smile when the dark-haired man
squeezed his hip comfortingly. “Never had you pegged as a mother hen though.”
“Shut up,” Calum grinned but his expression softened anyway. “I must get it
from my sister.”
Michael drew away from the dark-haired man unwillingly when they turned down
their road and, almost like he knew what Michael was worrying about, Calum took
a hesitant step away, putting a gap between them.
They needn’t have bothered.
“Your parents aren’t home?” Calum frowned, looking at the empty driveway.
Michael rolled his eyes.
“I’m seventeen, Cal. Pretty sure I can make myself dinner.” Michael’s hand
drifted to the pocket of his school trousers and he swore, shoulders slumping
like his school bag was suddenly ten times heavier. “Except I forgot my door
keys… and they’re not home ‘til seven.” Michael forced a smile he didn’t
particularly feel to hopefully lessen Calum’s worry. “Maybe I won’t be having
dinner after all.”
“Rubbish,” the older man said instantly, dark eyes soft. “I’ll make you
something later. You can stay with me until they’re home. I’m not leaving you
outside on your own.”
“This isn’t exactly a bad neighbourhood, Calum,” Michael pointed out mildly but
he was definitely not going to argue.
Calum was sweaty from his run and Michael was sweaty from PE but, while the
older man looked jittery - like the adrenaline was maybe still coursing through
him - Michael was just tired and grumpy. He felt small wandering along next to
the older man and Calum’s dimples creased his cheeks as he got his door keys
out of his pocket.
“You look like a grumpy kitten again,” Calum teased as he opened the door,
smiling just as widely as he had done that day when he’d invited the younger
boy in for burgers. “Welcome back.”
                                       *
Calum was in the shower.
Michael was trying not to think about it; trying not to imagine all of that
uninterrupted tanned skin and the black ink of his tattoos swirling beneath the
hot water as it steamed up the glass. For just a moment, Michael imagined a
smaller pale hand smearing through the fog as Calum’s lips made their way
steadily down the younger boy’s pale throat and - Wow, okay, probably not a
very good train of thought to follow right now.
Michael tried his best to distract himself instead, still standing awkwardly in
the middle of Calum’s living room in his socks on the rug. There was a grey
sofa pushed up against the wall with a low coffee table in front of it,
directly opposite a flat screen TV that kind of made Michael salivate just a
little bit.
There was a book shelf nearby too and that was where Michael looked now, keen
to distract himself from the pounding of the water resonating through the
ceiling. The novels on the shelf were dog-eared - mostly slim poetry books and
autobiographies with the sort of gritty but ultimately uplifting endings that
tended to make Michael feel like he should be doing more with his life.
There were books on music and art culture too, just to add a little more depth
to the beautiful man washing upstairs. Michael let his fingertips trace over
the covers before he became distracted by a collection of framed pictures
sitting on the next shelf up, probably at Calum’s eye level.
Some of them showed the older man with the friends Michael had met at the
barbecue - Ashton, Bryana and Luke - and, strangely, there were no pictures of
Calum’s parents at all. There was another picture too though, smaller than the
others and obviously older, and that was the one that held the golden-haired
boy’s gaze.
Michael spotted the dark-haired man first, only he didn’t really look like a
man in the picture. Calum might even have been younger than Michael with his
dimples creasing his cheeks and his sparkling eyes. There was a girl standing
behind him, tanned arms wrapped around his shoulders as she pressed a kiss to
his soft cheek, clearly giggling as the picture was taken. They shared the same
features and Michael knew without a doubt that this had to be the sister Calum
had mentioned earlier.
Michael touched the edge of the frame but he didn’t take the photo down. He
couldn’t tear his gaze away though; it was just so odd, being privy to this
part of Calum’s life that he’d never seen before. It meant a lot that Calum was
trusting him with this.
“Her name’s Mali-Koa.” The older man’s soft voice came from the doorway and
Michael jumped, looking up in surprise. He hadn’t heard Calum approaching and
although he wasn’t exactly doing anything bad, he still felt his cheeks
flushing red. He felt like he’d been snooping.
“Sorry, I was just looking,” Michael mumbled and Calum shook his head, that
same gentle smile still playing across his lips. His dark curls were fluffy
from his shower now and he was dressed only in a pair of loose grey shorts. He
smelt like green apples too and Michael closed his eyes for a moment, gone for
it.
He loved green apples. It made him want to taste Calum’s skin.
“Is she older than you?” Michael asked, just because he didn’t want the silence
to continue. Calum nodded as he walked closer, the warm skin of his muscular
arm bumping against Michael’s as he looked at the picture too.
“Yeah. By four years,” Calum said but his chocolate brown eyes were still soft,
shining with something that was almost melancholy. Michael dropped his hand to
tangle their fingers together before he could think better of it and a tiny
sigh escaped Calum as he tightened his grip.
“Do you miss her?” Michael asked. Somehow he could tell that Calum didn’t see
her much anymore.
“More than you know,” the dark-haired man said softly, running a shaking hand
through his hair ruefully. He looked sad and Michael pressed a gentle kiss to
the older man’s broad shoulder before he could think better of it. Calum’s full
lips twitched. “How’s your elbow doing, kitten? Stopped bleeding?”
“It was only a graze,” Michael said but he still let Calum fuss over him. He
liked the attention. “Can I get a drink please, Cal? I finished my water after
PE.”
Calum clapped a hand to his forehead, his expression becoming guilty. “I’m so
sorry! Come on, let’s get you some juice,” the older man said, leading Michael
gently towards the kitchen by the hand. It was nice in there, shiny and
pleasantly clean. He had a fridge with two doors, both of them covered in
postcards and magnets from what looked like a lot of travelling. There were
concert tickets stuck there too, more photos of Calum arm in arm with his
friends and sister.
Michael’s expression was soft as Calum opened the doors, rootling around inside
and shivering as goosebumps broke out on his arms at the cool air.
“Do you ever wear a shirt?” Michael teased when Calum emerged triumphantly with
a bottle of apple juice. “Not that I’m complaining,” the younger boy amended
and Calum actually giggled as he held the drink up for inspection.
“Occasionally. How’s apple?”
“Perfect,” Michael smiled and Calum’s dimples creased his cheeks as the younger
boy clambered up onto a stool at the breakfast bar. Calum joined him up there
with two glasses but he disappeared for a moment, returning from upstairs with
a plaid shirt thrown on over his shorts. He buttoned it up, smirking when
Michael pouted at him. The golden-haired boy didn’t really mind though. It
meant enough that Calum was letting him see this side of him. He was hardly
going to complain.
“How does spaghetti sound?” the dark-haired man suggested, eyes crinkling
happily when Michael smiled at him over the rim of his glass.
“Awesome,” the golden-haired boy grinned before he tilted his head to the side,
looking for all the world like a curious kitten. “Although I thought you said
you couldn’t cook?”
“I can’t,” Calum said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he blushed.
“But I can grate cheese and cook pasta. That’s about all I can manage as I’m
lazy and bulking up… but it does the job.” Calum grinned. “Will that do,
kitten?”
Michael blushed but he still nodded, hiding his smile behind his pale hands.
“That’s perfect,” Michael said but what he meant was “You’re perfect.”
                                       *
Calum was trying not to smile as he started to cook the spaghetti.
He’d tasked the younger boy with grating the cheese and he was watching Michael
out of the corner of his eye, face crinkling when he saw the tiny smile curving
Michael’s cherry-red lips, even as he frowned because: “I think this grater is
broken, Cal.”
“You’re using the wrong side, kitten,” Calum grinned, eyes twinkling as a
teasing smile tugged at his full lips. The younger boy blushed and Calum tried
to pretend his heart wasn’t melting in his chest. “How about you set the table
instead? I can do the cheese for you.”
“You’re my hero,” Michael said sarcastically, fluttering his beautiful golden
eyelashes at Calum. God, the dark-haired man couldn’t get over how long they
were as they fanned out on the younger boy’s flushed cheeks. He looked like a
Disney princess with them, honestly. It was actually a bit ridiculous.
“You’re so sassy,” Calum said and Michael smiled smugly as he got up to rummage
through the kitchen drawers, searching for the cutlery. The older man wondered
if Michael was naturally this feisty as he marvelled at how the younger boy’s
personality was so much bigger than he was. It didn’t take away from how damn
cute he was though and Calum’s heart felt too big for his chest as he finished
boiling the spaghetti.
Michael looked little when the older man turned to carry their plates over,
small pale hands resting on the table as he gave Calum one of his timid smiles
that made his pretty emerald green eyes sparkle.
“Dinner is served,” Calum said in his approximation of a posh accent. He
sounded kind of stupid but it made Michael giggle and the seventeen year old
was humming ‘Be Our Guest’ when Calum set the plate down in front of him.
“Cheese is in that bowl in the middle. Help yourself, kitten.”
Damnit, Calum needed to stop calling him that.
“Thank you,” Michael said, blushing furiously. ‘Huh, maybe he didn’t need to
stop after all.’ The golden-haired boy smiled shyly. “It looks great. Thank
you, Cal.”
Calum ducked his head bashfully as he started on his own food, grateful that
he’d left the radio playing quietly in the background so they didn’t have that
awkward situation where they tried to make conversation with their mouths full.
Michael kept making contented little humming noises and his golden hair was
still sticking up messily from school. Calum hoped his elbow felt better now.
He hoped he felt safe here.
“This probably isn’t as good as your mac and cheese, right?” Calum teased and
Michael blushed prettily, green eyes sparkling as he tried to suppress his
smile.
“It comes close,” Michael said, biting the inside of his mouth to keep from
laughing. “Very close.”
“I think you’re fibbing,” Calum decided, reaching out to poke Michael
reprimandingly in the nose. When the younger boy kissed the tip of his finger
instead, Calum choked on a bit of spaghetti and had to take a long drink of
juice while Michael tried not to laugh at him.
He liked this a lot, having Michael here with him.
The bit that got Calum the most though was just how domestic it felt having
Michael sitting here eating dinner with him, feet brushing under the table as
the sun slowly began to set outside while they finished their meal.
“I like your tattoos,” Michael said quietly as he set his cutlery down on his
empty plate carefully. “But there was one that I couldn’t see properly,” he
said, gesturing to Calum’s left arm where it was covered with the plaid
material of his shirt. “What is it?”
Calum undid the top few buttons of his shirt - noticed Michael’s eyes darkening
faintly as his tattooed collarbones were revealed - and eased it down so that
he could see which tattoo Michael meant. The younger boy reached out
hesitantly, brushing the flower tattooed onto the inside of Calum’s bicep.
“This is a flower from New Zealand,” the dark-haired man explained quietly,
fingertips brushing the petals. “That’s where I’m from, see? I’m Maori.”
Michael nodded curiously, green eyes soft as they traced the design inked into
Calum’s skin.
“It’s so pretty,” Michael murmured and Calum was struck again by how beautiful
the younger boy was, with his wide sparkling eyes and his soft hair shining
like burnished golden as it tumbled across the pearly skin of his forehead.
“You think so?” Calum asked but truthfully he was pleased. He liked seeing
Michael’s face light up as he looked at Calum’s tattoos.
“Sure it is,” the younger boy breathed, his voice hesitant as his cheeks heated
with blood. “I want a tattoo that pretty someday.”
Michael ducked his head and even the back of his neck was red now. Calum
reached out without thinking, cradling Michael’s overheated cheek in his palm
as the younger boy raised his head cautiously. He looked bashful and Calum bit
his bottom lip worriedly.
“What’s wrong?” the dark-haired man breathed and Michael shrugged half-
heartedly, face falling as he frowned down at the table.
“I want pink roses and sunflowers… daisies maybe…” Michael was almost scarlet
now. “But… it’s weird that… that I want to be…” He faltered, cheeks flaming
now. Calum’s hands fell to hold Michael’s and the younger boy dropped his head.
His golden hair hid his expression from view and the older man threw caution to
the wind.
“It’s not weird at all that you want to be pretty,” Calum said softly, praying
that he hadn’t missed the mark. “You’re already gorgeous, Mikey. I can’t
exactly get a bigger crush on you, can I?”
Michael’s hands were trembling when he covered his mouth but his smile was
evident as his damp green eyes crinkled.
“You really mean it?” he asked, voice little more than a murmur as he gazed at
Calum like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You really don’t think
it’s weird? Not… too feminine?”
“Of course not, kitten,” Calum promised and it kind of hurt that someone must
have shot his ideas down before, for him to believe that he was being weird
now. “There’s nothing wrong with being yourself.”
Michael’s lips tugged up into a weaker, more sincere smile and Calum laced
their fingers together gently, raising Michael’s hand to brush his lips gently
across the younger boy’s knuckles.
“And those tattoos sound beautiful,” Calum added, watching Michael glow with
pride. “We could go and get them together one day… if you wanted to.”
“I’d really love that,” Michael said in a small voice, earlier worries
forgotten in the face of Calum’s acceptance. “Has anyone ever told you what an
amazing person you are, Cal?”
Calum’s dimples creased his cheeks as he smiled.
“Every day of my life,” he lied and Michael snorted, shoving him weakly in the
shoulder.
“You talk so much shit,” the golden-haired boy said and Calum laughed, winking
at him.
“But that’s why you like me.”
                                       *
They went to sit together in the living room after they’d finished dinner,
debating whether they should put a film on before they decided that the radio
was a better option since they didn’t know what time Michael’s parents would
get home.
Calum settled down on the sofa, the soft grey material of the cushions warm
against his bare legs. His shorts were rucking up around his muscular thighs
but it didn’t really matter because Michael had just flopped down beside him,
soft and full of food as he smiled contentedly at the older man.
A Chase Atlantic song was playing softly into the room and the lighting was
soft since Calum had opted to only turn on one of the lamps, leaving the
overhead light off. Michael looked sleepy in his arms, stretching out like a
little kitten before he snuggled back down again, nuzzling his face into
Calum’s throat as the older man rubbed his shoulder gently.
“Tell me your name. I don't ever wanna let you down. No, I just wanna kiss your
lips in the rain.”
Michael’s golden hair was fluffier than ever when he raised his head suddenly,
frowning down at Calum like he’d just thought of something very important to
tell him.
“What is it?” the dark-haired man wondered, a slight smile touching his lips at
the vaguely disgruntled expression on the younger boy’s face.
“And know I'll pull you closer if you start to drown, drown, drown.”
Michael bit his cherry-red bottom lip, tilting his head to the side as he
watched Calum.
“I didn’t do my maths homework and my teacher got mad at me,” he said and Calum
pulled a face, hating the idea of anyone being mean to the boy lying in his
arms.
“Why didn’t you do it?” he asked, wondering if he remembered enough maths from
school so that he might be able to help. Inexplicably, Michael allowed a smile
to grace his beautiful features.
“Oh, I was just distracted,” he said teasingly, green eyes flickering quickly
down to Calum’s mouth and away again. Michael’s tongue darted out to wet his
lips and Calum’s hand continued to rub the younger boy’s shoulder gently.
“Then my hand meets your thighs with that look in your eyes I can never
forget.”
“What distracted you?” Calum asked, voice softer now… lower. Michael swallowed,
eyelashes fanning out against his skin for a moment as his eyes fluttered shut.
When they flickered open, Calum saw that they were definitely darker now.
“Then it's back to my room. What a wonderful view, love, and that's when I
said, no.”
Michael looked so pretty when he blushed. It made Calum’s heart pound unevenly
in his ribcage, like it was trying to escape his chest. Michael made him weak.
“I was distracted on account of the fact that I kept thinking about kissing
you.”
The words were surprisingly eloquent when it was taken into consideration quite
how much the younger boy was blushing.
Calum’s chocolate brown eyes twinkled as he tipped his head to one side
curiously.
“Oh really?” he teased, making Michael flush hotter.
“Roxanne, why you wanna leave me on my own now?” The words were soft in the
quiet and Michael was almost boneless against the older man as the song washed
over him, melting like he felt just as comfortable as Calum did. “Roxanne, I
think we should go but I'm not sure enough.”
“Probably wasn’t as great as I remember,” Michael said but the lie was obvious
by the way he was trying not to smirk. Calum grinned, teeth sinking into his
full bottom lip. Michael’s eyes followed the movement as his shaking hands rose
to tangle gently in Calum’s dark curls.
“Are you quite sure about that?” Calum asked innocently and Michael’s face lit
up slowly, like sunlight burning through the fog.
“You should probably jog my memory,” Michael said, voice breathless as he
looked at Calum pleadingly. The dark-haired man smiled as he cupped the younger
boy’s jaw gently in his hand.
“I think we can do that for you,” he murmured.
“Roxanne, I'll drive us somewhere far away from out of town.”
Michael gasped when Calum’s full lips bumped gently against his own but his
body was warm and pliant against the older man’s, his fingers tugging on the
dark curls gently as Calum took Michael’s bottom lip between his own, sucking
on it lightly.
Michael’s tiny moan seemed to startle him and his cheeks were red as his eyes
fell shut, hands falling to fist the front of the dark-haired man’s plaid
shirt. Calum’s eyes were shut too as he deepened the kiss with gentle little
licks of his tongue, just testing the waters until the muffled sound that
escaped Michael as he pulled him closer showed that he liked it.
“Now I'm falling deep within your eyes like cocaine.”
Michael shuddered in his arms when Calum’s tongue stroked hot over his own and
it made warmth bubble in the dark-haired man’s stomach like butterflies. He
hadn’t felt like this just from kissing someone for years but there was
something undeniably special about being this close to Michael.
Calum just couldn’t place his finger on what that might be.
“I'm hoping that you'll be there when I'm coming down, down, down.”
One of Michael’s small hands had risen to tangle too-hard in Calum’s hair in a
way that the older man loved and Michael was still gripping Calum’s shirt in
his fist, twisting the fabric as he pulled Calum closer, until -
A button popped off and Michael broke away, lips swollen, expression vaguely
mortified until Calum giggled into his neck, pressing a kiss there instead.
“I’m sorry for breaking your shirt,” Michael said and then he was laughing too,
giggling helplessly as Calum cuddled him close, tucking the younger boy’s head
safe beneath his chin as he dropped a kiss onto Michael’s forehead.
“I can probably forgive you if you kiss me like that again,” Calum said and
Michael’s beautiful green eyes crinkled as he beamed.
“Let me see what I can do.”
When Michael’s full cherry-red lips brushed against the dark-haired man’s
again, a happy sigh escaped Calum as he melted down onto the sofa beneath the
younger boy’s soft hands.
Kissing Michael felt like coming home.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought by leaving comments and kudos <3
***** Boyfriends *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm sorry about the wait but I wanted to make sure I got this fic
     right! I've been planning the rest of it out and I really hope you
     guys will enjoy it :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Michael was seeing a lot more of Calum now. It felt almost like, once he’d been
round there in the evening and had seen that new side of him, Calum wasn’t
hiding anymore. The walls were coming down and Michael wanted to feel exposed
or maybe even vulnerable but he just didn’t. Not when Calum was cuddling him
close as he coaxed the younger boy into a gentle kiss.
Michael was going to see Calum today actually. Daryl and Karen were driving to
see some relatives Michael didn’t much like, and he’d managed to get out of the
visit with an impressive combination of whining and pretending he was ill.
Michael felt quite smug as he padded through the empty house in his bare feet,
content in the knowledge that his parents wouldn’t be home until after dinner
that night. Michael was still going over to Calum’s house instead of inviting
the older man here though; he wasn’t going to risk his parents finding out.
The sun was already shining high in the sky but Michael barely gave it a second
thought as he locked his front door behind him, scrambling clumsily over the
low stone wall separating his front garden from Calum’s and dancing forward to
knock on the dark-haired man’s front door.
After a long pause, the door was pulled open and an exhausted-looking Calum
stood blinking in the sudden sunlight. His dark curls were a fluffy flyaway
mess around his soft face and his chocolate brown eyes looked tired. Michael
tilted his head to the side curiously, a slight frown marring his expression.
“Are you okay?” the golden-haired boy asked softly. Calum managed a humourless
smile, pushing the door open wider so Michael could walk in.
“Just c’mon in,” Calum sighed but his expression was soft enough when the
younger boy hesitantly entered the house that Michael was fairly certain it
wasn’t him. Almost like Calum could tell what he was thinking, his eyes became
gentler as he reached out to squeeze Michael’s shoulder gently. “It’s okay,
kitten. I was just listening to some music. You want to come sit?”
“Okay,” Michael murmured but a tiny smile tugged at his cherry-red lips as he
hooked his little finger around Calum’s, allowing himself to be led into the
living room.
“But it’s all the same. I could have foreseen that you would act like you are.”
There was music playing, calming and rich but with an almost urgent undertone
that made Michael grip Calum’s hand tighter. The dark-haired man slumped down
onto the sofa, bathed in golden sunlight as he tugged Michael down lightly into
his arms.
“Oh, so cool you seem, blending with that scene, wearing what you think is
hard.”
Calum was dressed in a soft grey t-shirt over skinny jeans and he still smelt
fresh from the shower he took after his morning workout. Michael bit his bottom
lip worriedly, propping his chin up with his elbow resting on the sofa cushion
as Calum looked up at him sleepily.
“Cal, are you sure you’re -”
“This song is Brain by Banks,” Calum said, cutting Michael off with a squared
jaw that made the younger boy realise that maybe Calum didn’t want to talk
about this right now. Michael settled down instead, cheek resting warmly on the
older man’s chest as Calum rubbed comforting circles into Michael’s back as the
sun warmed his skin. “It’s one of my favourites if I’m feeling stressed.”
“I can see you struggling. Boy, don’t hurt your brain, thinking what you’re
gonna say ‘cause everything’s a game.”
Michael wanted to ask Calum what he was stressed about; wanted to kiss him
until the tension leaked out of his shoulders and he told Michael what was the
matter but the golden-haired boy wasn’t sure he was allowed.
“Always trying to calculate. Trying to look smart but not too smart to threaten
anything they say.”
The song ended with a swell of music that was quickly cut off and the dark-
haired man let out a tiny sigh as he reached for his phone where it was lying
on the coffee table. He hit repeat and, as the song started again, Michael
stretched to press a tiny kiss to the underside of the older man’s jaw, hoping
to calm him.
This was another different side to Calum too and, privately, Michael wondered
how many more there were to uncover.
The song played four more times before Calum finally stopped it but they stayed
lying tangled there together anyway, Calum’s fingers tracing idle patterns into
the pale skin of the younger boy’s back as his hands slipped beneath Michael’s
top.
“This is a pretty colour,” Calum said, his voice low as he stroked his
fingertips over the soft pink t-shirt Michael had risked wearing under his grey
and black flannel. He’d found it screwed up in the back of his wardrobe and,
although he couldn’t be sure, he was fairly certain he’d stolen it from the
lost property box at school.
“Thanks,” Michael breathed but his cheeks were flaming as he glanced up at
Calum with his wide green eyes, self-conscious now as he wriggled up into an
awkward sitting position. “You… you don’t think it’s a bit... m-much?” His
voice cracked and Calum’s dark eyes softened to melted chocolate as he pushed
himself up too.
“I think you look really lovely, kitten,” the older man said softly, opening
his arms and huffing out an amused breath when he ended up with a lapful of
Michael. The golden-haired boy cuddled him close, tucking his blushing face
away into Calum’s neck as the older man hugged him back.
“Will you please tell me what’s wrong?” Michael whispered and Calum went still
beneath him.
There was a moment of silence - stretching on just long enough that Michael
began to panic - before Calum gave an uneasy shrug, leaning back against the
cushions so that he could see Michael properly.
“I just…” Calum’s voice trailed away awkwardly but he relaxed visibly when
Michael didn’t press him to speak; he just watched with his wide green eyes as
he worried his bottom lip between his teeth. Calum freed it gently with his
thumb and the younger boy’s cheeks heated. “My parents called me last night and
I ended up pacing around my living room ‘til like two in the morning. That’s
all, Mikey.”
Michael frowned, ducking his head for a moment as he thought about that. He
didn’t really know anything about Calum’s parents; just that Calum had no
pictures of them up and that he’d definitely never mentioned them before.
Michael fiddled with the leather bracelets he was wearing, faintly anxious now.
“It just upset me a bit,” Calum said quietly when the silence stretched between
them. He refused to let his gaze settle on Michael and the golden-haired boy
was starting to feel a bit awkward now because he was still sitting in Calum’s
lap; the dark-haired man didn’t seem to mind though so Michael let the shapes
Calum was stroking into his skin calm him.
“Why did it upset you?” Michael asked softly but his green eyes found the photo
of Calum and his older sister Mali-Koa, and, when Michael looked back down
again, he found that Calum was gazing at the picture too.
“My parents don’t like me being gay,” Calum said – bluntly in Michael’s opinion
– and the older man suddenly looked so much more exhausted, like the
conversation with his parents had aged him. Calum still looked sleepy but he
seemed sad now too and Michael couldn’t help himself when he wrapped his arms
gently around the older man’s broad shoulders, pulling at him weakly until they
were both lying down face-to-face.
“I’m sorry it made you sad,” Michael murmured, pressing a tiny kiss to Calum’s
soft nose and smiling weakly when it made the dark-haired man blush. “I’m sorry
they don’t accept you.” Michael bit his lip suddenly, fighting against the lump
rising in his throat. “My dad would be the same too I think… if I told him.”
Calum’s face crumpled as he pulled the smaller boy to his chest, his full lips
brushing Michael’s golden hair as he dropped kisses there. Michael cuddled
Calum tighter.
“Do you want me to make you macaroni cheese, Cal?” the younger boy asked. His
voice came out muffled where his mouth was pressed to Calum’s chest and, when
the dark-haired man giggled, Michael felt it through his skin.
“That sounds amazing, kitten,” Calum said sincerely. Michael felt his breath
catch in his chest when he looked up, catching the fondness saturating Calum’s
beautiful face.
His chocolate brown eyes were crinkling and his dimples were creasing his
cheeks, and when Michael stretched up to press a clumsy kiss to the older man’s
full lips, it felt like all of the puzzle pieces were beginning to fall into
place.
                                       *
Watching Michael cooking them lunch in his kitchen made Calum forget how
stressed he was feeling.
Michael hummed while he was adding the cheese and he had to stand on tiptoes to
check that the pasta was boiling sufficiently because the saucepan was almost
too high for him. It was painfully cute and Calum could feel a stupid smile
spreading across his face as he watched the golden-haired boy work.
Michael had shucked his flannel shirt off before he’d started cooking so he was
just standing there in his tight fitting pink t-shirt and skinny jeans now,
feet bare and golden hair rumpled, and the whole scene looked so domestic that
Calum was pretty sure his heart was melting in his chest.
“You’re so cute,” the dark-haired man said and Michael shot him a smile over
his narrow shoulder, cheeks clearly flushed pink. Calum tried to hide what he
was doing on the table behind the fruit bowl but the younger boy’s expression
became curious as he left the pasta for a moment, drifting closer.
“What’re you doing, Cal?” he asked and Calum’s cheeks heated as he hid the thin
strips of leather he’d just finished plaiting under his hands. Michael arched
an eyebrow, looking down at Calum with fondness saturating his face.
“What about the pasta?” Calum asked meekly and Michael rolled his eyes,
smirking slightly as he pushed the fruit bowl aside.
“The pasta’s fine, Cal,” Michael said dismissively. “But thank you very much
for your concern.” The golden-haired boy hesitated, watching Calum hopefully.
“Will you please tell me what you’re doing?”
“I was…” Calum’s soft cheeks were red again and Michael was watching him with
gentle sparkling eyes, like seeing Calum insecure was something strange that
didn’t fit into his idea of the older man. Calum wondered if he should be
flattered. “I was just making you something… but I didn’t want you to see it
‘til it’s done.”
“What’re you talking about, Cally?” Michael’s cheeks flamed at the nickname but
Calum felt his expression softening as the golden-haired boy bit his bottom lip
nervously.
“I made you a bracelet, kitten,” Calum said quietly, moving one of his hands to
reveal the plaited strips of pink and white leather. He’d picked the material
up from a craft shop he’d found in town during his lunch break the day before,
certain they were perfect for the younger boy. “I noticed you wear a lot of
bracelets so I figured maybe I could give you one too,” Calum offered. “And
these colours were really nice so I figured… maybe it would make you feel
pretty. I mean, you’re already pretty but –”
A tiny sound tore out of the younger boy and, before Calum had time to do much
more than blush scarlet, he suddenly had a lapful of Michael.
The golden-haired boy was clinging to him, pale arms wrapped tightly around
Calum’s shoulders as he tucked his face away into the older man’s neck. Calum
couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he rocked Michael gently. The golden-
haired boy felt like everything he’d ever needed.
“So… do you like it?” Calum asked softly and Michael pulled back, his green
eyes shining so bright that Calum felt like he was looking into the sun.
Michael pressed a firm kiss to Calum’s full lips and the dark-haired man’s eyes
fluttered shut of their own accord.
“I love it, Cally,” Michael promised as he cupped Calum’s face gently in his
small hands, pressing a longer kiss to his lips. “I love it so much.”
Calum’s hands slipped beneath Michael’s t-shirt to stroke the warm skin of his
back and Michael sighed as his fingers tangled in the older man’s dark curls.
Calum’s teeth grazed Michael’s bottom lip and, when the younger boy gasped at
the sensation, Calum licked into his mouth, swallowing the younger boy’s
muffled whine without comment.
Calum kissed Michael until they were both breathless, until he could feel the
younger boy’s heart racing too fast in his chest beneath his tight pink t-
shirt.
“Wow,” Michael mumbled, cherry-red lips swollen and hair in disarray. He smiled
at Calum dopily and the older man felt like he was in free fall. “That was…
wow.”
The younger boy grinned and Calum rolled his chocolate brown eyes fondly,
cupping Michael’s cheek in his palm.
“I –” Calum faltered, nose wrinkling slightly. “Can you smell burning?”
Michael’s eyes widened and he lurched to his feet, almost hurtling straight
into the fridge before he caught his balance. He looked incredibly relieved
when he peered into the saucepan and Calum rolled his eyes fondly as he got to
his feet too, retrieving some plates and cutlery.
“Is the macaroni cheese well-done?” Calum asked innocently and Michael gave him
a half-hearted glare, clearly trying not to smile.
“At least I can make macaroni cheese,” Michael countered teasingly and Calum
pretended to be offended as he leant past the younger boy to get some glasses
out of the cupboard. He dropped a kiss onto Michael’s cheek unthinkingly and
the younger boy blushed.
When they sat down to eat their lunch a few minutes later, it was slightly
burnt.
Neither of them really minded.
                                       *
The pair of them went to sit out in Calum’s garden after lunch.
The sun was shining high in the blue sky and Michael was pouting slightly
because Calum had insisted on covering the younger boy’s exposed skin in sun
cream before he’d let him outside.
“I live in Australia, Cal,” Michael said grumpily as he flopped down onto the
grass beside the dark-haired man. “I think I’m used to a bit of sun.”
“No point getting burnt though,” Calum said, rolling over onto his side and
propping his head up with his elbow as he looked down at the younger boy.
Michael’s cheeks were faintly pink and he shivered when Calum trailed his
fingertips down his arm.
“It’s such a nice day,” Michael said contentedly, wriggling a little bit closer
despite how hot it was as the grass stuck to his skin. “Weather like this
always makes me want to go to the zoo.”
“You like the zoo?” Calum asked, chocolate brown eyes twinkling. He could hear
a bumblebee buzzing somewhere nearby as the strands of grass fluttered in a
light breeze. Calum would need to mow the lawn again soon. Deciding to ignore
it for now, the older man slumped down onto his back beside Michael, gazing up
at the clear blue sky.
“I love it,” Michael said happily, his expression excited as a huge smile lit
up his face. “I love the tigers and the reptiles and the tapirs. Last time I
went to the zoo it was even hotter than it is today and I got one of those
lemonade ice lollies that made my hand all sticky, and I persuaded mum to buy
me this toy lemur when we were leaving and it was just the greatest day ever.”
Michael sighed dreamily, tucking one hand behind his head so that his pink t-
shirt got rucked up around his soft tummy. Calum settled his hand comfortingly
over the younger boy’s hip. “I love days out with mum. I know it’s childish.”
“Don’t be silly,” Calum chided gently. “Appreciate spending time with your mum,
Mikey.” Calum managed to swallow the: ‘You don’t know what you’ve got until
it’s gone’ but he thought the younger boy could see it in his eyes because
Michael sobered slightly.
Calum leant forwards to kiss him. He wanted the smile back on Michael’s face
and, when they finally broke apart, Calum was relieved to be rewarded by it.
“I really want to take you to the zoo one day,” the older man said and Michael
beamed, surging forwards to press another soft kiss to Calum’s lips. “I bet
you’re so adorable when you’re excited.”
“I just rush around everywhere and trip over my own feet a lot,” Michael
pointed out but he was still smiling. “Adorable probably isn’t the right word.”
“I think we’ll have to agree to disagree there, kitten,” Calum smiled, dimples
creasing his cheeks. “Although I promise I’m not going to let you trip over
anything in my presence. I don’t want you to get hurt. I still feel terrible
about your elbow.”
“Cal, that was weeks ago… and it was only a graze,” Michael pointed out but his
emerald green eyes were so soft. “You’re really special, you know that?”
“Special like an insult?” Calum asked sheepishly, barking out a laugh when
Michael shoved him.
“You know what I mean.” The golden-haired boy smiled but he looked away, gaze
settling on his new bracelet instead. “It’s so pretty,” Michael said softly,
eyes sparkling as stroked the plait with his fingertip. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s the least I can do for someone as lovely as you,” Calum said and Michael
whined, rolling over onto his stomach and burying his grin in the crook of his
arm as his cheeks heated.
“Stop making me blush,” Michael complained weakly and Calum grinned, rolling
over too so that he could put his arm around the younger boy’s waist. Michael
seemed to almost melt when Calum pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder.
“I can’t help it, kitten,” Calum teased, winking when Michael risked looking up
at him. “You’re easy.”
“Rude,” Michael scoffed but his emerald green eyes were glittering as he coaxed
Calum into a gentle kiss, his small hands trembling slightly as he stroked
Calum’s tanned, sun-warmed skin. “Do you ever wear a shirt?” Michael asked, and
Calum laughed softly because he’d shed his grey t-shirt somewhere between the
kitchen and the back door.
“Not if I can help it,” Calum said. “I find it liberating.”
“I bet you were one of those kids who just ran around naked, right?” Michael
teased and Calum chuckled, cheeks reddening again as he pressed another kiss to
Michael’s shoulder.
“That may be correct but you have no way of proving it,” the dark-haired man
said, trying not to smile. “Ah, who am I kidding? I was always naked. It was
probably very traumatising for the neighbours. Whenever we went to my nan’s as
a kid, she always used to fill the paddling pool up and I’d pretty much just
run around the garden naked the whole day, playing with this stupid beach ball
she had.”
“And you were… what? Seventeen?” Michael teased. Calum pretended to look
offended, tickling Michael’s ribs so that he squirmed and giggled.
“I was four actually, thank you very much,” Calum said but his eyes were
sparkling and his voice was thick with suppressed laughter. Michael looked up
just in time to see Calum’s face fall a little. “I miss my nan.”
“Oh.” Michael looked downcast, turning his head so that he could see Calum
properly where the older man was still draped over him. “Is she…?” His voice
trailed away delicately and Calum nodded morosely.
“Yeah. She passed away last year.”
“I’m so sorry, Cal,” Michael whispered, green eyes wet now at the poorly-
suppressed pain he could see on Calum’s face. “What was she like? If you want
to talk about her obviously…”
“Well… she looked a lot like me,” Calum said slowly, thinking hard. “She had my
eyes.” Michael smiled gently, fingertips brushing the crinkles that appeared
beside Calum’s eyes when his lips curved upwards. “She was so lovely honestly.
She accepted me when my parents didn’t, y’know? And she always used to make
jokes about when she died, right? Which is morbid as hell now that I think
about it but she said she wanted me to use the money she left to move out… to
actually make something of myself, y’know?”
“She sounds like a character,” Michael said before he grimaced at himself
because that was the sort of thing his mum said. Calum rolled his eyes fondly
and Michael’s smile softened as he relaxed. “It sounds like she loved you a
lot.”
“She did,” Calum said as he cuddled Michael closer. “Definitely more than I
deserved.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” the golden-haired boy said quietly. “You’re
amazing, Cal.”
Calum looked bashful as he ducked his head, dark curls falling across his
forehead as he brushed his lips absently over the back of Michael’s neck.
“Do you miss her?” the golden-haired boy asked softly before he frowned,
clearly berating himself for asking. Calum’s smile was soft as brushed
Michael’s soft hair back gently.
“Every day,” Calum said. “I love her more than anyone almost… after maybe
Mali." Calum's expression brightened faintly. "I’m seeing my sister tomorrow
actually… her and her boyfriend Tom. Haven’t seen them in months… not since I
left my parents…” Calum’s voice trailed away but he still looked thoughtful and
Michael had a feeling he was dwelling on his grandmother.
“Did you love your nan more than your parents?” Michael asked with wide eyes.
He didn’t seem to be able to help it though; Calum knew how much Michael loved
his mum and he was pretty sure the younger boy felt the same way about his dad
too – otherwise the fact that they didn’t get on so well wouldn’t upset him so
much.
“Definitely,” Calum said. Michael’s golden hair was starting to stick to his
forehead with sweat now and the older man’s expression softened as he gave
Michael’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You want to go inside now and have a
drink, Mikey?”
“Can I have lemonade? Like that day at the zoo?” Michael asked hopefully and
Calum smiled, kissing the younger boy gently on the nose.
“Of course you can, kitten.”
                                       *
Karen texted Michael at half past three to let them know that they wouldn’t be
home until at least ten that night and, once again, Michael silently
congratulated himself on managing to stay at home.
Calum turned the lamps on in his living room when the sun began to set and
Michael was snuggled up on the sofa with the older man now, wearing his black
and grey flannel over his pink t-shirt as his cheek rested on Calum’s chest.
The dark-haired man was lying beneath him, stretched out on the cushions as he
stroked the bare skin of Michael’s back beneath his clothes.
Calum’s full lips were soft against Michael’s and they parted when Michael’s
fingers twisted in the older man’s dark curls. Calum was wearing his t-shirt
again – unfortunately – and one of his denim-clad thighs had slipped between
Michael’s, making the golden-haired boy’s breath tear out of him in a gasp.
This was the closest to touching that Michael had ever experienced and it was
making heat pool in his stomach as Calum deepened the kiss. His palms were warm
on Michael’s back and a little humming sound escaped the older man when he felt
Michael’s tongue stroking hesitantly over his own.
When Calum drew back to catch his breath, Michael shuddered at how blown his
pupils were. He was pretty sure he had to look a lot worse though. His lips
were swollen and he was half-hard which might have been embarrassing if Calum
hadn’t been polite enough not to comment on it.
“Aren’t we supposed to… like…?” Michael made a crude grabbing gesture with his
hand and Calum snorted before he could stop himself, darkened eyes twinkling
with amusement and fondness.
“You watch a lot of porn, don’t you?” Calum teased but he looked almost
sympathetic. The younger boy huffed, shoving him lightly in the shoulder.
“Well so do you!” Michael said defensively, cheeks flaming. “I’ve seen you
through your window!” He spoke without thinking and immediately clapped his
hands over his mouth but it was too late; the damage was done and Michael’s
embarrassment was going to send him into an early grave.
“What? How?” the dark-haired man asked and, if Michael hadn’t been looking at
Calum’s face, he would’ve been sure the older man was embarrassed. Instead,
Michael saw Calum’s lips twitching like he was fighting not to smile.
“Don’t laugh at me!” Michael complained grumpily, cheeks burning so hot that he
felt like he was about to burst into flames. “I… I had to go put the bins out
down the back alley and when I was coming back up the garden I saw you in your
living room and… Stop smirking!”
Calum pressed his lips together hard but his smile was impossible to hide and
Michael pouted at him. Calum’s eyes were twinkling now but he was giving
Michael this look, like he was trying to tell him something without words.
Michael’s jaw dropped audibly.
“Oh my god!” the younger boy gasped accusingly and Calum giggled into his neck.
“Oh my god, Cal! You wanted me to see!”
“No I didn’t!” Calum insisted but he was blushing and his lips were still
curved upwards. Michael felt like he was drunk as a bubble of laughter escaped
him.
“Yes, you did!” the younger boy declared, jubilant now. “You did want me to!
You did it on purpose –”
Calum kissed Michael to get him to shut up, lips trailing across the sensitive
skin of the younger boy’s neck as he stroked Michael’s golden hair gently.
Calum grazed his teeth lightly over the younger boy’s earlobe and Michael
whimpered, cherry-red lips falling open around a gasp as Calum shifted just
enough that his thigh rubbed harder against Michael and –
Wow, okay, Michael was hard now. Properly hard.
He was probably about to die of embarrassment.
Michael’s cheeks flamed red again, the flush spreading all the way down his
throat. Calum’s dark eyes softened as he nudged Michael gently onto the sofa
beside him and the golden-haired boy hung his head when Calum sat up too.
“You okay, Mikey?” he asked softly but Michael’s hands had fallen into his lap
and he was biting his lip hard. For once, Calum let him.
“Y-yeah,” Michael whispered but his voice cracked. “Um… I might go home… have a
shower…” Calum bit his lip at that - like he was picturing it maybe - and
Michael tried to ignore the little shiver of heat unfurling inside him. “Um…
see you tomorrow I guess…?”
“Once Mali and Tom have gone home,” Calum suggested but his hands were shaking
slightly as he cradled Michael’s overheated face gently between his palms.
“Are you really okay, Mikey? Because if I ever do something that upsets you, I
need you to tell me.” Calum’s lovely eyes were wide and earnest, and Michael
had to swallow past the lump in his throat. “I just want to make sure you’re
safe. You deserve to be happy, kitten.”
“I promise I’d tell you, Cal,” Michael said but his voice was faint. Calum was
watching him with concern and Michael’s lips tugged up into a weak smile. The
uncertainty on his pale face vanished when Calum leant forwards very
deliberately to press a gentle kiss to the younger boy’s cheek.
“Then what is it, Mikey? What’s wrong?” Calum murmured, leaving their foreheads
resting together as Calum reached down to take Michael’s hands from his lap,
tangling their fingers gently. “Please tell me. I want to help you.”
“It’s just…” Michael closed his eyes and Calum sighed quietly when he saw that
the younger boy’s eyelashes were spiky with tears. “What are we, Cal?”
Michael’s voice was wet and his face was drawn, his muscles tense like he was
expecting rejection. “Boyfriends?”
His voice cracked and Calum was so relieved that he let the word hang in the
silence for a moment, golden and perfect.
“Would you like that?” Calum asked once he’d found his voice again. Michael
slumped down against him in relief, apparently deeply relieved that the older
man hadn’t pushed him away in disgust.
“Yes,” Michael whispered and Calum relaxed, pulling Michael gently into his lap
as he pressed a soft kiss to the younger boy’s forehead.
“I’d like that too,” Calum whispered and Michael whimpered, lips finding
Calum’s in a messy kiss as the dark-haired man rubbed his back soothingly. “I’d
like that a lot.”
Michael was still kissing Calum when his parents' car swung into the driveway,
the headlights shining through the curtains startling them apart.
Then the pair of them ran out into the garden and Calum gave Michael a boost
over the fence, and the younger boy let himself in through the back door,
fastening his shirt as he did so. The younger boy was grinning wide in the
darkness, skin pearly in the moonlight.
Calum stood out there in the garden for a long time and it was only when he let
himself back inside afterwards that he realised how happy he felt.
The smile on his face refused to fade.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** Never Better *****
Chapter Notes
     Hey, I'm sorry for the wait but hopefully this is okay!
     I found it kind of hard to write but fingers crossed it worked out :)
     Enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
No matter how hard he tried, Michael couldn’t stop thinking about the previous
evening with Calum. (Not that it was really an issue but he kept getting
awkward boners and he could really do without that.)
Michael couldn't help it though; couldn't help remembering the warmth of
Calum's well-muscled thigh slipping between his own; the heat pooling like
molten lava in Michael's stomach as lust rippled through him.
He had to jerk off in the shower before he could go downstairs for breakfast
and it was almost midday by the time he was finally dressed. The house was
quiet since Daryl had gone into town to pick up some shopping but Karen was
still there, kneeling down in the back garden as she pruned some flowers.
Michael grabbed a carton of orange juice and a chocolate-chip cereal bar from
the fridge before he slid the back door open, blinking in the sunlight. Karen
looked up at the sound of the door, smiling warmly at her son when he dropped
down into one of the metal chairs on the patio.
It was a hot, sunny day without a cloud in the clear blue sky and Michael
admired it briefly before shoving half of his cereal bar into his mouth in one
go.
“Did you have a nice time with Calum last night?” Karen asked shrewdly and
Michael spluttered on his breakfast – or would it count as brunch if he was
eating it at this time of day? No, probably not; cereal bars for brunch sounded
stupid.
Michael felt his cheeks staining red as he glowered at her, taking a long sip
of orange juice to buy himself some time.
“What are you talking about?” he said at last, pausing to cram the rest of his
cereal bar into his mouth. The rest of his words came out garbled. “I felt
sick.”
“Tell that to the cereal bar you just inhaled,” Karen pointed out, failing to
suppress her smile. Michael pouted at her, trying to pretend that he wasn’t
blushing as he silently cursed the fact that she knew him so well.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he asked eventually and she smiled at him
as she straightened up, brushing the dried dirt from her jeans.
“Very much so,” she said, eyes twinkling as she watched her only son carefully.
Michael dropped his head but he was smirking a little bit, even as his
expression softened when his eyes settled on the pink and white leather
bracelet encircling his wrist. Michael stroked it gently with his fingertip.
“That’s very pretty,” Karen said quietly, her voice almost knowing. When
Michael looked up, she was watching him fondly.
“Yeah, it is,” he smiled, blushing. “Cal made it for me.”
Karen turned back to her flowers but, by the curve of her cheek, Michael could
tell his mum was smiling widely.
“Are you going to see Calum today?” Karen wondered as she scooped her gardening
gloves up from the ground. She dropped them onto the table in front of Michael
before sitting down too and he eyed them warily, making sure that no spiders or
bugs were about to crawl out before he finally answered the question.
“Maybe later. I don’t know yet.” Michael shrugged, flinching dramatically when
he felt something brush against his leg under the table. Looking down though,
it was just Teddy watching him with his large, unblinking amber eyes. “Cal’s
sister and her boyfriend are visiting today so he’s kind of busy.”
“Oh.” Karen patted Michael’s wrist gently when she noticed that he looked
vaguely downcast but her eyes were curious. “I didn’t know he had a sister.
I’ve never seen her around.”
“Yeah, well she doesn’t come round much. Aside from her, Cal doesn't get on
with the rest of his family much.” Michael hesitated, biting his bottom lip
cautiously as he glanced up at his mum, golden hair falling down across his
sweaty forehead and sticking to his skin. “His parents aren’t… Well, they’re
not like you, mum.”
Karen looked upset but not wholly surprised and Michael slumped down in his
seat, hunching his shoulders up defensively as he frowned down at the table.
The conversation was making him think of his father and all the lies Michael
had told him, and the golden-haired boy could feel his mum watching him with
concern clear on her face. Michael spoke next without meaning to.
“Calum’s my boyfriend.”
The words were small and shy but there was an undeniable undercurrent of
happiness to them, and Karen was smiling when Michael finally dragged his eyes
timidly up to her face.
“I’m very pleased for you both,” she said sincerely, her full lips tugging up
into a smile. “Calum's a nice boy. I trust him to look after you.” Michael
blushed prettily and Karen adopted the sort of expression that her son often
wore when he was trying not to laugh. “Would you be upset if I told you I’d
guessed this was going to happen from the very moment he moved in?”
Michael considered this before shaking his head, a slow smile spreading across
his face.
“No, not really,” the seventeen year old said with a half-hearted shrug. “I’m
not exactly known for my subtlety. Quite frankly, I’m surprised dad hasn’t
worked it out yet.”
Karen’s face fell slightly but she still looked happy for her son.
“Yes, well your father has always been good at only seeing what he wants to
see.” She gave Michael’s hand a gentle squeeze, her eyes soft. “As long as
you’re happy and safe with Calum, that’s all I care about,” she said firmly.
“We can worry about telling your father later.”
Michael nodded but his teeth were worrying his bottom lip and he couldn’t quite
keep the anxiety from his face. Karen moved round the table to pull her son
into a hug, her fingers carding gently through his golden hair as she kissed
his forehead.
“Everything’s going to work out, baby bear,” she said softly. “Just wait and
see.”
                                       *
Michael stayed in the garden even after his mum had gone back inside, trailing
a piece of string through the short grass for Teddy to chase as he heaved a
deep sigh, already bored without Calum.
The dark-haired man hadn’t worked out in the garden that morning so the first
time Michael saw Calum that day was when the older man led his visitors outside
after lunch. Michael stayed sitting down under the eucalyptus tree but his
expression became fond when he saw the tanned man’s proud face as he showed his
sister Mali and her boyfriend Tom his garden.
The three of them talked quietly and, for a while, Michael let his thoughts
wander again; remembering the feeling of Calum’s warm lips against his own and
the soft, gentle timbre of Calum's voice as he reassured Michael that he’d like
it if they were boyfriends too.
Calum was speaking again now but he didn’t sound soft and gentle. He sounded
more tired than he had done the day before actually, like maybe he hadn’t been
able to sleep last night either. Calum sounded tense and Michael listened in
worried silence for just a moment too long, muttering a curse when Teddy leapt
forwards to tug the string right out of Michael’s soft hand with his claws.
The seventeen year old could hear Mali talking too although her boyfriend
seemed quiet and - much to Michael's concern - it wasn’t long before the two
siblings started arguing.
“– and I’m just saying that maybe you could visit! Show them you’re still the
same person you were before!” Mali said hotly as Michael hid behind his fence
with Teddy, kind of praying that the ground would swallow him up. “I’m not
saying you should come and live back home, Cal, because I wouldn’t want to do
that either if I were you!”
“Then why won’t you just drop it?!” Calum demanded, his voice tight with pain.
“Nothing’s going to change so just stop saying it!”
“But I'm worried about you! You’re upset!” Mali argued. “Why just accept that
you’re never going to talk to them again? They’ll understand eventually, Cal!
They’ll live with it because you’re their son and they love you! Stop being so
damn stupid and –”
“Guys,” Tom said weakly, voice meek. “Guys, stop fighting.”
Michael agreed wholeheartedly with Tom.
“You just don’t get it, Mali,” Calum continued like Tom hadn’t even spoken. His
voice was softer now, more exhausted. “You’ve always been their favourite and
this isn’t even a criticism, okay? It’s just the way things are.”
“Cal, please don’t say that. It’s not true,” Mali said, her voice weak and
uncertain. “Mum and dad love you, okay? And they have to miss you or they
wouldn’t even be calling you anymore…” Her voice trailed away for a moment but
she sounded a little calmer when she spoke next. “Just think about it, Cal…
okay?”
“Okay,” the younger man said hesitantly. There was a rustle of clothing –
Michael hoped they were hugging – and then Tom cleared his throat awkwardly,
rising from where he’d been lounging in the grass.
“Mali, if we want to catch the train then we’re going to need to leave soon,”
he said tentatively. “Unless you want to get the one after?”
“No, we can’t be late for Gemma’s party…” Mali sounded like she was biting her
lip as she and Calum got to their feet too. “Cal, will you be okay on your own?
What else have you got planned for today?”
For the first time, Michael detected a tiny smile in Calum’s still-strained
voice.
“I won’t be on my own. Mikey’s meant to be coming round later,” the dark-haired
man said. “And besides, you don’t have to worry about me. You should get going
– and make sure you both have fun, okay, Tom?”
“Got it, Cal,” the older man said, clapping Calum on the shoulder. “Take care
of yourself, buddy.”
“I’ll see you at your football game next month,” Mali said, pulling her younger
brother into another hug. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mali,” Calum said quietly. “Now go before you miss your
train.”
“Sure,” she said. “You have fun with Michael, okay?”
She smiled at the younger boy over the fence as she and Tom were led back
inside by Calum, and Michael went so red at being caught that he closely
resembled a fire engine.
Teddy tried to steal the string from Michael’s hand again.
This time he used his teeth.
                                       *
Calum – who had rid himself of his shirt somewhere in the house – appeared in
the garden again once his sister and her boyfriend had gone, his expression
troubled as he paced across the short grass that he and Michael had lay kissing
on only the day before.
Calum had looked happy then, for the most part anyway, but that tiredness was
back on his face again now – Michael could see it when he straightened up
hesitantly from where he’d been sitting – and Calum’s face was flushed with
anger as he scowled down at the grass he was stamping over.
Michael didn’t like being separated from Calum by a fence again; it felt like
it had before, back before they were boyfriends.
Calum froze when he saw Michael watching him, small pale fingers curled over
the top of the fence as he watched the older man with wary, wide green eyes.
Calum’s cheeks burnt hotter but Michael’s expression was so earnest that the
dark-haired man couldn’t quite find it in himself to be defensive.
“Have you been there this whole time?” he asked instead and Michael’s face
crumpled.
“I accidentally kind of eavesdropped on you by mistake and I’m so sorry,” the
golden-haired boy said in a rush, cheeks hotter than Calum’s now as the dark-
haired man watched him curiously. “But I just – are you okay? I was really
worried you weren’t okay.”
“I’ll be fine,” Calum said as he came closer, stopping right in front of
Michael as he looked down at the younger boy. Despite the anger still burning
dully in his eyes, he seemed to mean it and Michael grew calmer when Calum
reached out shakily to cup his cheek. “I’m just upset but –” The older man
faltered and Michael watched his boyfriend nervously, only relaxing when
Calum’s face inexplicably softened.
“What is it?” the younger boy asked softly. Calum’s fingers threaded gently
through Michael’s golden hair as a tiny smile tugged at his lips, his other
hand settling warm on Michael’s narrow shoulder.
“You’re still wearing your bracelet,” Calum said.
“Of course I am,” Michael replied, blushing a soft pink as he covered Calum’s
hand with his own. “You made it for me.”
The unhappy set of Calum’s jaw lessened for a moment and he looked happier as
Michael stretched up on his tiptoes, barely brushing the underside of the dark-
haired man’s chin with his lips. Calum snorted a quiet laugh but his chocolate
brown eyes were fond as he gave Michael an appraising look that made the
younger boy blush again.
“You want to come round the front?” Calum suggested. “I might work out for a
bit first if that’s okay.” His voice became vaguely apologetic. “I’m too keyed
up to just sit still right now, y’know? I’m stressed.”
“It’ll be okay, Cal,” Michael said quietly, his fingertips soft as they
fluttered against Calum’s muscular shoulder before Michael took a hesitant step
back. “I’ll meet you round the front in a minute. Don’t you dare put a shirt
back on.”
Calum's lips twitched and Michael decided the stupid joke was worth it as he
hurried into his house, rolling his eyes at Karen’s knowing expression with
great dignity.
Anything was worth it if it made Calum smile.
                                       *
By the time Calum had got the garage door shut behind him and Michael, he was
pissed off again. He kind of hated his parents for making him feel like this
because, everything else aside, now he was wasting his time with Michael too
and that just didn’t seem fair.
“I need a cigarette,” Calum said with a heavy sigh. Michael raised his
eyebrows, watching the older man hesitantly.
“I didn’t know you smoked,” Michael said and Calum smiled humourlessly as he
headed for the punch bag, curling his hands into fists.
“I don’t,” he said, eyes burning as he sent his knuckles slamming into the
material. “Not anymore.”
Calum punched it as hard as he could, over and over until even Michael seemed
to realise that there was no discernible technique here… that Calum really was
just punching it as hard as he could, with no thought to any possible damage he
might be doing to himself.
“Stop it,” the younger boy said quietly from where he was standing beside the
rack of weights nearby. Calum’s fist hit the punch bag again with a dull
smacking sound but it didn’t alleviate the tension settling in his shoulders.
“Calum, stop.”
“Why would I stop? This is the only thing helping,” Calum muttered, perhaps
unfairly. His dark curls were sticking to his forehead with sweat and he could
feel Michael’s eyes tracing the muscular contours of his bare chest. Calum’s
fist hit the punch bag again, muscles flexing.
“You said if you hit too hard then you can hurt yourself,” Michael murmured,
his expression downcast as he bit his bottom lip, watching Calum anxiously. “I
don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to get hurt,” Calum promised but the words sank in anyway and
the dark-haired man felt slightly calmer as he kept his punches more
controlled, no longer snapping his arms out blindly as the pent-up emotions in
his chest built up.
Michael looked visibly appeased as he wandered closer, staying a careful
distance away so that the punch bag didn’t swing into him. He was dressed in
soft navy shorts and a pale blue t-shirt patterned with white birds. His golden
hair was soft and floppy on his forehead, and his emerald green eyes were still
tracing Calum’s chest.
The dark-haired man’s arms fell limply by his sides and he swallowed audibly,
taking in the flush colouring Michael’s pale cheeks as he watched Calum with
unusually dark eyes.
“Take a picture; it’ll –”
“If you finish that sentence, I’ll probably never kiss you again,” Michael
warned him teasingly but he was biting his bottom lip now, taking in the sweat
gleaming on Calum’s muscles and the way his chest tapered down into narrow
hips. Michael’s fingers twitched like he wanted to pull him closer but wasn’t
sure he was allowed. Calum felt a tiny smirk gracing his lips.
“Sorry, kitten.” His grin was audible in his voice and Michael relaxed visibly,
smiling crookedly although his cherry-red lips fell open when Calum trailed his
fingertips across his own stomach, tilting his head to the side curiously as he
watched the younger boy’s reaction.
“You’re so hot,” Michael blurted out and Calum’s face lit up when he saw the
younger boy awkwardly trying to rearrange himself in his shorts without his
boyfriend seeing.
“Oh my god, Mikey,” Calum said, eyes sparkling. “Are you turned on right now?”
“Shut up,” Michael groaned but he was bright red and his teeth were still
sinking into his bottom lip, his pupils blown like maybe he didn’t totally hate
Calum drawing attention to it. The dark-haired man smiled again, walking
hesitantly closer until he could rest his hands gently on Michael’s hips,
keeping his grip purposefully loose enough that Michael could easily pull away.
He didn’t though; the golden-haired boy went limp instead, arms winding around
Calum’s shoulders as the older man slowly backed him up against the wall.
“Are you hard?” Calum breathed and Michael tipped his head back against the
wall, giving Calum room to scatter kisses across his pale throat as the younger
boy’s hands tightened around his boyfriend’s shoulders.
“Yeah,” Michael said, voice breathy. “Cal, please –”
Calum’s grip on his hips was a little tighter now and Michael looked like his
head was spinning when he finally opened his eyes, pupils so blown that the
green was almost hidden from sight. Calum swore under his breath when he felt
the heat pooling in his stomach at the undisguised lust saturating Michael’s
flushed face.
“Do you want this?” Calum asked softly, drawing back to give Michael room to
think. The younger boy pouted as he reached for him but, although Calum dropped
a gentle kiss onto Michael’s nose, he didn’t crowd him again. “Because if
you’re not sure right now then it doesn’t matter, kitten. We can just –”
“I am sure,” Michael said hurriedly, nodding his head and eyeing Calum with
desperation. “Cally, please. I need –”
Michael broke off with a groan when Calum pinned him back against the wall
again, his full lips dragging hot down the sensitive skin of the younger boy’s
throat as Calum rocked his hips forwards against Michael’s, knees weak beneath
him.
Calum could feel the golden-haired boy’s hard cock dragging against his own
through the shorts they were wearing and it felt so good that the heat in
Calum’s stomach was already starting to tighten. Michael let out a choked moan
when Calum thrust forwards again, head falling back against the wall at the
pleasure coursing through him. Calum cradled the back of Michael’s head gently
in his palm to keep him from knocking it again but his free hand was firm on
Michael’s hip as the younger boy groaned against him, eyes wet and needy.
“Cally,” Michael whined desperately. His eyelashes were spiky with tears and
there were two points of colour high in his cheeks. His lips parted around a
silent moan when Calum rocked forwards again, forehead falling to rest against
the younger boy’s.
“Such a pretty boy for me,” Calum murmured, trailing hot kisses down the
younger boy’s throat. “Just do what feels good, kitten.” Michael whimpered as
he took the words to heart, beginning to grind his swollen cock against Calum’s
as their breath tore out of them in moans.
The older man’s lips found Michael’s and the golden-haired boy kissed Calum
like he was trying to breathe him in, his fingers tangling too tightly in the
dark-haired man’s curls just the way Calum loved. It made him moan and the
sound leaving Calum shocked a whine from Michael too, and it was shockingly
hot.
Calum was already embarrassingly close, just from watching Michael fall apart
in front of him. The sounds tearing out of the younger boy were so nice to
listen to and Calum’s breath was tearing out of him in pants now as Michael ran
a trembling hand over the older man’s bare chest, stroking the muscles.
Calum rocked his hips forward harder, eyes squeezed tightly shut as their
parted lips brushed. They weren’t even kissing anymore; just gasping into each
other’s mouths as Michael’s hips jerked harder against Calum’s, his cock
rubbing against his boyfriend’s thigh.
Michael’s moan caught in his throat when Calum sucked a kiss into the pale,
sensitive skin behind his ear and, as Calum thrust up one more time, Michael
came with a broken whine.
The younger boy’s cherry-red lips were swollen from where he’d been biting them
and there was a wet patch spreading on the front of his shorts as he shuddered,
and then Calum’s cock was grinding perfectly into Michael’s thigh and the
younger boy’s fingers were curling too-tightly into Calum’s dark curls again
and –
Calum fell apart with a moan, hips rutting against Michael until the friction
became too much. Michael’s cheeks were stained red and he was still panting,
his knees weak beneath him as an exhausted Calum wrapped his arms gently around
his boyfriend’s waist, sticky and sweaty but far too tired to do anything about
it right now.
“You okay, kitten?” Calum asked softly, eyes drooping as he tugged Michael down
lightly onto the low sofa nearby. The golden-haired boy blinked his glittering
eyes open sleepily, smiling at Calum with so much fondness that Calum’s heart
felt too big for his chest.
“I’m perfect, Cally,” Michael mumbled and Calum had honestly never agreed with
a statement more. “How are you?”
“Never better,” Calum grinned, drawing Michael in for a sleepy kiss as the
younger boy curled up in his arms, warm and safe. Calum kissed the top of his
boyfriend’s head, the golden hair soft against his full lips as the younger boy
fell asleep.
Calum was smiling as he cuddled his boyfriend tighter.
Maybe boxing wasn’t the only thing that helped him release pent-up emotions.
Maybe Michael did too.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you guys for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought :) <3
***** Catch Fire *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi guys, I’m sorry this took a little while! I had a lot of fun
     writing this update though and I really hope you’ll all enjoy it!
     Also just in case any of you were having trouble picturing what
     Michael and Calum look like, Cal looks the way he does right now and
     Mikey looks something like this: https://33.media.tumblr.com/
     3f42e873a5cbf747002737944b131a98/tumblr_inline_n3lio7UKuO1rsgb5n.png
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Calum came to pick Michael up for their date at eleven. They’d planned it a
week in advance, determined to go out and do something that might actually
qualify as a ‘date’ since they kind of felt like simply lazing around in
Calum’s house didn’t really count.
It was a sunny day when the older man rang Michael’s doorbell and the breeze
was warm on Calum’s tanned skin as he waited. The twenty year old was dressed
in dark skinny jeans and a black button-up that managed to hide exactly none of
the tattoos inking his arms. Michael hadn’t seen this shirt yet but Calum was
kind of hoping for at least a blush; his boyfriend flustered was the cutest
thing on the planet probably.
Calum’s smile became bashful when the front door opened to reveal Michael’s
mum.
“Hi, Calum,” Karen said warmly, voice soft and jovial. Calum’s chocolate brown
eyes widened in surprise when he was greeted with a hug but he guessed it
wasn’t that strange really; he chatted to her most days after all and she was
always friendly whenever she saw him. “Mikey’s just getting ready. Feel free to
come in though.” By her tone – and the empty driveway behind him obviously –
Calum knew Michael’s dad wasn’t in. Karen pursed her lips like she knew what
the younger man was thinking. “Would you like a drink?”
“Oh, I - I’m good thanks.” Calum always got disconcerted when Karen was so
friendly to him, mainly because it made him sad that he didn’t talk to his own
mum anymore. He was glad Michael had her all the same though; the younger boy
deserved at least one parent who loved him unconditionally.
Karen led him into the house and Calum grinned when he heard Michael singing
along to a Green Day song upstairs. The living room was nice; all comfortable
grey sofas, polished wooden panelling, and bright beams of sunlight entering
through the gauzy curtains covering the open windows. Teddy was curled up
asleep on the arm of one of the sofas, and the air smelt of books and coffee.
“Have you had your hair cut, Calum?” Karen asked curiously as she settled down
in an armchair. “It looks very nice.”
Calum felt his cheeks heating as he ran his fingers through his freshly-cut
hair. It was a lot shorter at the sides now but there were still curls on top;
an undercut, Calum was fairly certain the girl in the shop had called it. He
smiled and his dimples creased his cheeks.
“Thank you,” he said honestly. “I wasn’t sure how I felt about it ‘til now.”
“Well, I think it looks lovely,” Karen said, her green eyes almost identical to
her son’s as she smiled at him. “Sit down, Calum. I know Mikey and he won’t
rush himself.”
Calum’s lips twitched at that but he did as she asked, sitting down hesitantly
beside Teddy and cracking a smile despite himself when the little cat raised
its head to watch him curiously. Teddy was still purring as he lay there and
Calum reached out slowly, running his hand down the cat’s back as he stroked
the short, sun-warmed fur beneath his fingertips.
Teddy stretched out contentedly as Calum petted him and the dark-haired man
felt his expression soften when he heard the little cat purr more loudly.
“Are you sure I can’t get you a drink?” Karen asked as she rose, picking up an
empty mug from the coffee table and lingering in the doorway. She tilted her
head to one side, watching him steadily as he busied himself with stroking the
cat again.
“I’m good, thank you,” Calum repeated and Karen smiled, turning towards the
kitchen.
“Mum? Who’re you talking to?” Michael yelled from upstairs. Calum snickered
quietly at that, rolling his eyes fondly when he heard Michael come thundering
downstairs, as graceful as ever.
The seventeen year old went bright red when he appeared in the doorway, dressed
in torn blue jeans and a green-and-navy plaid shirt that made his eyes stand
out. Michael's golden hair was soft against his pale forehead and he was
staring at Calum in total shock which was… odd.
“We… we planned this a week ago,” the older man said awkwardly, smiling but
slightly confused. “Um… your mum knew about it?” Michael simply continued to
stare which, okay, was not the reaction Calum had been expecting. “Mikey?”
The seventeen year old went redder than ever as he all but threw himself at his
boyfriend, wrapping his pale arms tightly around Calum’s waist and squeaking
something inaudible. Teddy ran away with a hiss and Michael looked vaguely
chagrined as he drew back, smiling sheepishly when he saw Calum gazing down at
him with wide eyes.
“Um… hello to you too?” Calum said with poorly-disguised amusement, kissing the
end of Michael’s nose when the younger boy finally tilted his head back to look
at him. “Are you okay, Mikey?”
Michael was almost scarlet now.
“You cut your hair,” he mumbled, hiding his smile in the soft fabric of his
boyfriend’s shirt. “I freaked out about it.” Calum felt a probably-ridiculous
flutter of panic.
“Wait… you don’t like it?” Maybe Calum could wear a beanie forever. That might
solve the problem… although he lived in Australia where the weather was
probably far too hot for that and he couldn’t exactly wear a beanie to work –
And Karen had said she liked it! Had she been lying? Had Calum been walking
around with some weird kind of reverse mullet that was, like, enormously
unfashionable and horrible to look at?
God, Mali and Tom would never let him live this down, let alone Ashton and
Bryana –
And Luke.
God, Calum could never leave his house again probably and he’d have to work out
inside all the time so no more of his neighbours saw his hair until it had
grown out but… what if it didn’t grow out properly? What if it stayed like this
forever and Calum looked ridiculous and –
“Oh my god, Calum – stop! I can practically hear your crisis from here!”
Michael was giggling again, arms wrapped around Calum’s muscular shoulders as
he peppered the older man’s face with kisses. “It looks amazing, I promise. You
look really hot – especially with that shirt on? Like, what the hell? I was not
prepared?” Michael made it sound like a question and Calum barked out a
relieved laugh despite himself. Michael ran his fingers through Calum’s freshly
cut hair and kissed him on the nose. “I promise it looks amazing,” the younger
boy repeated earnestly, his cheeks pink. “You just surprised me.”
“I thought I was gonna have to wear a hat forever and possibly change my name,”
Calum mumbled and Michael’s laughter was infectious as he clung to the older
man. Calum’s chocolate brown eyes crinkled when he started giggling too and, by
the time Karen returned with a fresh mug of coffee, both of them were laughing
harder than ever, flushed and breathless as Calum wiped a tear away and Michael
complained that it felt like he’d just developed abs.
“I’m not even going to ask,” Karen smiled as she returned to her seat, smirking
slightly when Michael scrambled out of Calum’s lap and the older man let out an
‘oof’ when his boyfriend accidentally kneed him in the stomach.
“So where are you two going on your date then?” Karen asked innocently and
Calum looked around curiously to find Michael’s cheeks flaming. Up until that
point, Michael had made no mention that he’d ever told his mum about them but
Calum wasn’t upset – it actually meant a lot to him that Michael felt
comfortable enough about them to tell someone he obviously loved so much.
It meant the world.
“Well,” Calum said when it became clear that Michael was blushing too much to
form a sentence. He was turning the bracelet Calum had made him around his
wrist with his fingertip instead and the dark-haired man’s heart felt like it
was melting in his chest as his fingers tangled with Michael’s. “There’s this
really nice restaurant in town that my friend Bryana recommended so I figured
we could go there – they do tons of different stuff so there’d definitely be
something Mikey likes.”
“That sounds nice,” Michael said but he was smiling shyly now, his fingers
curling more tightly around his boyfriend’s as he watched him. “Can we go now?
It’s a really nice day. I don’t want to miss any of it.”
“Of course we can,” Calum smiled, dimples creasing his cheeks. He glanced
towards Karen but she was smiling serenely down at Teddy who had just curled up
in her lap. Calum bit his lip. “Do you need Mikey back by a certain time, Mrs
Clifford?”
Karen rolled her eyes fondly and Michael gave Calum a gentle elbow in the ribs.
“Just Karen is fine,” she corrected but she looked pleasantly amused. “And
Mikey doesn’t really have a curfew – he never needed one because he always
spent most of his time playing video games so –”
“Mum!” Michael complained but he was kind of smiling. Calum watched them both
fondly.
“Have him back by dinner later – say… five o’clock?” she suggested. Michael was
pouting slightly but Calum grinned, smiling at her gratefully as he helped his
boyfriend up.
“That sounds great,” Calum promised, smiling when Michael’s pale hand reached
to card through his dark curls. “I’ll definitely have him back to you by then.
Do you need us to pick anything up for you while we’re out?”
If Karen hadn’t been totally convinced about him before, she was now.
“Nothing at all,” she smiled. “I just want you both to have fun - and keep him
safe please, okay?” Her expression turned teasing. “He’s my baby bear.”
“MUM!” Michael yelled, his cheeks a worrying shade of red now. Calum grinned
but he couldn’t resist pulling the younger boy into a hug and Michael clung to
him, burying his burning face in his boyfriend’s chest. Calum dropped a kiss
onto the top of the younger boy’s head.
“C’mon, kitten,” Calum breathed, too quiet for Karen to hear him. “Let’s go
have some fun.” 
                                       *
Michael was still blushing when they got into Calum’s car, rolling the windows
down before they’d even started the engine because it was so stuffy in there.
Calum almost burnt his fingers on how hot the buckle on his seat belt felt so
he leant over to strap Michael in for him, not wanting him to hurt himself.
“My mum’s so embarrassing,” Michael complained but his eyes were fond and his
fingers rose to pet Calum’s new hair gently. The dark-haired man smiled wryly
as he straightened up, turning the key in the ignition so the car purred to
life.
“She only teases because she loves you,” Calum said honestly, his own dark eyes
twinkling as he carefully reversed out of his driveway and onto the quiet road.
The sky was a vast uninterrupted blue overhead and the silvery bark of the
eucalyptus trees growing on their street was almost too bright to look at in
the sunlight. “Anyone can see that.”
Michael harrumphed good-naturedly but he looked quite pleased with himself now
as he tangled his fingers in his lap, his eyes falling on his bracelet.
“When I told mum about us, she wasn’t even surprised,” the younger boy said
suddenly, his expression fond when Calum chanced a glance over at the end of
their road. “She said she guessed it was going to happen.”
“Huh,” Calum said intelligently, blushing when he caught Michael giggling
again. “That just… it’s interesting. I’m glad she’s fine with it.” Michael was
watching Calum with his soft green eyes and the older man smiled crookedly,
keeping his gaze fixed on the road ahead as he entered the town. “I really like
you, Mikey. You mean a lot to me.”
Michael cheeks were red again but his hand was soft when it came to rest
comfortingly on Calum’s knee.
“I really like you too,” Michael said, his voice soft and sincere. “You’re my
favourite person in the world probably.”
Calum smiled as he covered Michael’s hand with his own.
“Right back at ya, kitten,” the older man said with a lame grin. Michael
snorted, rolling his eyes in what he presumably thought was a dignified manner.
“Dork,” the younger boy said loftily.
“But that’s why you like me, right?” Calum countered as they drove through the
town without stopping. Michael hid his smile by turning to look out of the
window but the curve of his cheek gave him away.
“As if,” the younger boy smiled. There were trees passing outside now and, as
they turned a corner, a break in the woodland showed them one of Sydney’s many
bays as the sunlight sparkled dazzlingly off the water.
“This isn’t the way to town,” Michael noticed, turning to look at his boyfriend
curiously. “Cally, where are we going?” Calum smiled at him and Michael’s eyes
twinkled like he was about to say something stupid. “Have you finally grown
bored of me? Are you going to cook me over a campfire and use me to feed a
family of badgers?”
“Um…” Calum had to fight hard not to start laughing as he drove them along. “I
don’t know what I was expecting you to say but it wasn’t that.” His lips tugged
up at the corners and Michael sat back, looking thoroughly pleased with
himself. “However did you work out my evil plan, kitten? How did you discover
that – for all this time – I’ve been planning to lure you out here to feed my
badger clan?”
Michael tapped his temple with one fingertip, his eyes glittering.
“I’m psychic,” he said with a grin. “Bet you didn’t know that, did you?”
Calum was smiling as he turned off the road onto a narrow lane that led through
towering trees. The sun was so bright in the sky that the gravel beneath the
tyres was almost glowing and the air around them crackled with summer. Michael
was looking out of the window curiously, sweat beading on his forehead as he
unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt to reveal a pale blue vest
underneath.
“There won’t be much exercise involved,” Calum said as he manoeuvred them off
the road and onto a strip of sandy gravel that doubled as parking. “This is
just somewhere I go for runs occasionally and I stumbled across this really
pretty place the other day. I wanted to show you it.”
Michael smiled shyly over at Calum, brushing a lock of golden hair back from
his face as the dark-haired man leant over to press a gentle kiss to his lips.
“You ready to go, kitten?” Calum checked and Michael smiled, nodding as he
opened the car door. A wave of heat hit him but he relaxed when Calum’s tall
form blocked out the sunlight. “I have water in my bag,” the dark-haired man
said softly, his fingertips brushing Michael’s jaw as the younger boy smiled up
at him. “And we’ll go grab some lunch after this in town, okay? And then
whatever else we do is totally up to you. I just…” Calum rubbed the back of his
neck bashfully but his dimples were still creasing his cheeks. “I just really
wanted to show you this place.”
“I’m glad you did,” Michael said, his eyes already flickering towards the
trail. He could hear running water coming from somewhere in the trees and the
air was heavy with pollen, the dull buzz of cicadas coming from all around
them. “Let’s go!”
“Not before sun cream,” Calum said as he withdrew a bottle from the backpack
he’d got out of the boot. “Close your eyes so I don’t hurt you,” Calum said,
applying some carefully to Michael’s cheeks and nose. The sun cream smelt like
holidays and fun, and Michael was smiling despite himself, even as he screwed
up his face at how cool it was.
“I thought I’d avoided this,” the seventeen year old pointed out with a weak
pout. “The vest I have on underneath this shirt is a really pretty colour, see?
But I didn’t want to wear just that in case you started fussing with the sun
cream again.” Michael opened one green eye to frown at Calum and the dark-
haired man grinned, dropping a kiss onto his boyfriend’s nose. “You’re like a
mother hen,” Michael said accusingly and Calum pretended to be offended.
“You wound me,” Calum said dramatically as he locked the car, his feet
crunching on the dusty gravel. The sun was baking down, sizzling almost, but
the trees were tall and promised shade. “I’m wounded, kitten. Wounded.”
“Silly,” Michael smiled, his cherry-red lips tugging up into a smile. He caught
Calum’s fingers between his own and gave him an excited tug towards the trees.
“Now c’mon – let’s get in the shade before we catch fire or something!”
“It’s not that hot!” Calum teased but Michael was giggling again now as they
both jogged for the trees.
Probably better not to risk it.
                                       *
It was cooler in the shade and the sound of running water was much louder,
indicating that there was a stream or a brook nearby. Calum liked it in here;
the air smelt clean and fresh, and the twigs crunched in a satisfying way
beneath his Vans. Beside him and still holding his hand, Michael peered around
with interest.
“This looks like one of the forests in the game I was playing this morning,”
Michael said with mild surprise, his face lighting up. “Except there are no
mammoths. Or cannibals.” Calum snorted despite himself and, when he looked
over, Michael’s green eyes were twinkling.
“That sounds like an interesting game,” Calum teased but the younger boy was
watching him hopefully now and it made the dark-haired man smile. “What’s it
called? What do you have to do in it?”
“It’s called Far Cry Primal,” Michael explained earnestly, gesticulating
excitedly with his free hand while the other remained firmly entwined with
Calum’s. “It’s based in, like, 10,000 BCE or something, and you’re trying to
survive and stuff. It’s really cool honestly. I tamed a wolf and unlocked all
these cool new characters on the map this morning – and the graphics are
incredible! The game is awesome honestly.”
“It sounds it,” Calum said and, looking at the happiness saturating his
boyfriend’s face, he meant it. “I’d like to watch you play it at some point,”
he said and Michael smiled, his green eyes sparkling in his pale face.
“I’d really like that,” he said. “You should come round some evening this week.
Dad works late a lot and mum won’t let him bother us even if he is home.” Calum
hesitated, not wanting to see Michael’s face inevitably fall if he said no.
“Sure,” the dark-haired man said, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.
“If your mum’s cool with it.”
“She will be,” Michael said dreamily, throwing his head back to gaze up at the
wide blue sky. A magpie was wheeling in the sky overhead that the younger boy
was following with his eyes but Calum was more interested in watching his
boyfriend.
He really liked that Michael spent all his time playing horrible video games
but loved dressing all pretty. Calum found it strangely perfect because, no
matter what the younger boy had been told in the past, it was okay to like
flowers and… and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and games with cannibals in and
wearing pretty clothes and…
Calum could go on about it forever. Michael beginning to accept himself was
something beautiful and Calum loved it.
“It’s so pretty here,” the younger boy said softly, smiling when he heard birds
singing in the trees. Calum gave his boyfriend’s hand a gentle squeeze as he
raised it, dropping a soft kiss onto the younger boy’s knuckles. “Are we nearly
there?” Michael asked eagerly and Calum smiled, his chocolate brown eyes
gentle.
“It’s not far at all,” he promised. 
                                       *
The glade was just how Calum remembered it.
It was an almost perfect circle, edged with towering pines as the long grass
swayed like sea-green waves. Bluebells and hyacinths bobbed in the breeze but
there were other wildflowers too; daisies and buttercups and forget-me-nots
that made Michael clasp his hands over his chest, wide eyes sparkling.
Calum decided that the glade looked even more beautiful in the sunlight but it
dimmed in comparison to the beautiful boy standing beside him.
“This is the loveliest place ever,” Michael whispered, his voice all soft and
awestruck like their surroundings had taken him by surprise. The seventeen year
old looked so small as he ventured forwards and Calum’s heart felt too large
for his chest when he saw the blades of grass brushing Michael’s trailing
fingers.
“It almost comes up to your waist,” Calum noted with mild surprise. Michael
glanced back over his shoulder at the older man, rolling his eyes fondly. “I
don’t want to lose you in it.”
Michael’s emerald green eyes flashed at him playfully.
“Uh oh,” the younger boy said, eyes wide as he purposefully fell backwards with
a muted thud into the long grass. It undoubtedly cushioned his fall but Calum
still lurched forwards in shock, large hands outstretched in a vain attempt to
catch him. Calum fell down onto his knees clumsily and Michael grinned as he
curled his pale fingers around the older man’s wrist, tugging him down on top
of him.
“Silly,” Michael said again, kissing Calum’s nose.
“You’re mean,” the older man said, smirking slightly. “I thought a family of
flesh-eating badgers had stolen you before I was ready to say goodbye.”
“Clearly I would have fought them all off single-handedly,” Michael said
airily. “I would have whistled and called my wolf. It would have been fine.”
“We’re not in Far Cry Primal now, kitten,” Calum teased but his chocolate brown
eyes were soft as he rolled over onto his back, opening his arms for Michael.
The grass was tickling their skin and the low buzz of insects was even louder
now but Calum felt surprisingly content. The air was warm and heavy, and
Michael was a comforting weight in his boyfriend’s arms as he turned his head,
pressing a gentle kiss to the older man’s tanned skin.
“It’s beautiful here. I love the flowers,” Michael said dreamily, making Calum
suppress his smile. The younger boy let out a sudden laugh and Calum propped
his head up in his palm, looking down at the beautiful boy curiously.
“What is it?” Calum asked, poking Michael lightly on the end of his nose. His
skin still smelt like sun cream when Calum kissed his cheek and Michael closed
his eyes, a blissful expression on his face.
“We’re like that scene in Twilight where Bella and Edward are lying in the
meadow,” Michael said thoughtfully and Calum grinned.
“I’m going to open my shirt and show you my dramatic silver medallion,” Calum
said, utterly deadpan. Michael looked confused for a split-second before he
burst out laughing.
“That’s Vampires Suck!” The younger boy was kind of cackling now but it was the
most adorable thing and Calum literally prayed that he’d never stop.
“Should’ve known you’d like Twilight,” the older man said teasingly, nudging
Michael lightly in the ribs with his elbow. Calum hesitated before he glanced
at Michael out of the corner of his eye, face crinkling as he smiled. “So… were
you Team Edward or Team Jacob?”
“Team Edward,” Michael said firmly. “Every single time.” The golden-haired boy
took one look at Calum’s face and let out a dramatic groan. “Oh, so you were
more of a Team Jacob kinda guy?”
“When he wasn’t being problematic,” Calum said honestly before his eyes
twinkled at Michael. “I liked his tattoo. It was cool.”
Michael nodded in agreement, apparently too hot lying so close to Calum because
he wriggled back a little and slumped down sleepily into the flowers. He looked
so beautiful lying there surrounded by them and Calum’s chocolate brown eyes
were sparkling as he stroked Michael’s soft fringe back from his sweaty
forehead. Although the younger boy kept his pretty eyes shut, Calum thought he
saw the hint of a smile curving Michael’s cherry-red lips.
“I have a surprise for you,” Calum said and Michael cracked one of his eyes
open curiously.
“What is it?” the younger boy asked softly but Calum was thinking about what
Michael had said that day in his kitchen, about how he liked to be pretty and
feminine. Calum had been planning this ever since he’d stumbled across this
place, and he’d done a lot of research online which had basically resulted in
him watching loads of YouTube tutorials and returning to the craft shop for
something called ‘floral wire’.
“I’m making you a flower crown,” Calum said cheerfully, taking great
satisfaction in the way Michael blushed, his smile widening. “I’m going to do
it properly and everything. I have wire.”
“You’re the best boyfriend ever,” Michael murmured and there was something
blooming in his eyes that was too fragile to name.
“I do my best,” Calum smiled as his dimples returned. “You just lay back,
kitten. I’m making you a crown fit for a princess, okay?”
Michael’s cheeks were hotter now but he was biting his lip as he smiled up at
him.
“Okay,” Michael breathed and Calum got to work.
The dark-haired man took the wire from his bag and bent it carefully into a
circle shape, measuring it on Michael’s head and smiling proudly when he
managed to secure the ends together by twisting it. Then Calum went off
foraging for greenery to add although he never ventured very far, returning
triumphantly with ferns and a number of pretty fallen leaves he’d found that
had long stems.
Calum sat cross-legged beside Michael as he carefully wrapped the greenery
around the wire, knotting the stems gently so that they stayed in place.
“You’re good with your hands,” Michael joked with this lame smirk on his face
that made Calum’s grin stretch wide. Then Michael’s eyes settled on the
bracelet Calum had made him and his expression became sweeter. “You really are,
you know,” the younger boy murmured.
Calum smiled, ducking his head shyly as he continued wrapping the ferns, his
tattooed skin warm in the sunlight. Michael began to sing softly under his
breath as he watched his boyfriend work, his green eyes fond when he saw how
Calum’s tongue was poking out of his mouth as he concentrated.
“You’re so cute,” Michael said, reaching out idly and letting his fingertips
trail over Calum’s inked arm. Calum let the unfinished crown fall into his lap,
catching Michael’s hand and kissing each of his fingers until the younger boy
was giggling again, his head cushioned on the grass as the light breeze carried
in the fresh smell of the river.
“So are you, kitten,” Calum said softly. “Now do you want to help me choose the
flowers or do you trust my judgement?”
“I trust you,” Michael said but his words sounded a lot more sincere than the
situation really called for. Calum’s expression softened as he cupped the
younger boy’s cheek gently and there was so much they could have said then but…
now wasn’t the right time.
“Better get to work then,” Calum said, cheeks heating up as he headed for the
daisies. “This is going to be the most magnificent flower crown ever.”
Michael stretched languidly in the sunlight, his golden hair shining as he
smiled, letting his eyes fall shut.
“With you making it, Cal, I don’t doubt it.”
                                       *
Michael wore his flower crown on the drive back to town.
The sun was still beating down and it was almost scorching now, the air-
conditioning in Calum’s car working overtime as it tried (and failed) to keep
them cool.
They found one of the last spaces in the car park and Calum maneuvered in
fairly easily. The heat haze was giving him a bit of a headache now and,
despite them spending a lot more time in the forest than he’d originally
planned, he wasn’t particularly hungry in this heat.
“Would you mind if we didn’t go to the restaurant today?” Michael asked
quietly, biting his bottom lip hard enough that Calum had to free it gently
with his thumb. “Because it’s really hot and it’s kind of just making me want
to get ice cream and paddle instead…”
“That sounds like the best plan ever,” Calum grinned and, no sooner had the
words left his mouth, Michael was already clambering out of the car. The dark-
haired man smiled, brushing his dark sweaty curls back from his forehead as he
went to join Michael outside. The younger boy smiled up at him sweetly as his
green eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
“Last one there gets fed to the badgers!” Calum yelled and then the pair of
them were running across the car park and Michael was yelling something along
the lines of ‘how dare you make me exercise again?!’ and, god, Calum hadn’t
smiled this much in years.
Michael made him feel like he was flying.
                                       *
The inside of Calum’s car was full of sand now and the seats smelt of sea water
where Michael had accidentally-on-purpose sent the pair of them tumbling into
the surf together. It had resulted in some sort of weird tickle fight that had
come to a natural conclusion when Calum had managed to inhale saltwater but it
had still been a lot of fun.
“I had a lovely time with you today,” Calum said, bumping Michael lightly with
his arm as they sat together in the stiflingly-hot car. Michael looked over at
him with his soft emerald eyes, flashing a beautiful smile beneath the daisies.
“This was my favourite thing ever,” the younger boy said seriously. “We should
go on ‘real’ dates more often.”
“I think you may be right,” Calum agreed as he turned the car onto their road,
slowing down so that he could turn onto his driveway. Neither of them spoke but
their eyes found the clock and Calum sighed despite himself. It was only three
o’clock.
“We still have a few hours yet,” Michael said like he could read the older
man’s mind. The younger boy was pouting vaguely as he folded his arms across
his chest, presumably refusing to get out of Calum’s car. The flower crown was
still sitting proudly on his head. “I don’t want to go home yet. Dad’s there
and he’ll just ask me where I’ve been, and I don’t know what mum’s told him and
I don’t want today to be ruined and –”
“Mikey, it’s okay,” Calum murmured, leaning forwards to press a fleeting, risky
kiss to his boyfriend’s lips. “Do you want to come into my place until it’s
time for you to go home instead?”
Michael’s eyes twinkled when he smiled.
“I’d like that a lot,” the younger boy said softly. “Thank you, Cal. For today.
For everything.”
Calum curled their little fingers together, smiling down bashfully as he felt
Michael’s gaze on his face.
“Come inside, kitten,” the older man said quietly, his dimples reappearing in
his cheeks. “We can watch a film or something; just cool down a bit.”
Michael smiled as they climbed out of the car.
“Sounds like a plan.” 
                                       *
“What is this film, Cal?” Michael asked in amusement. They were watching it on
Calum’s pride and joy – his glorious flat screen TV that he’d forked out for
when he first moved in – and there were currently lots of motorbike-riding
Americans screaming as they were chased by badly-animated tarantulas the size
of cars.
“Uh…” Calum hit the information button on the remote, snorting a laugh when he
saw the title. “Eight-Legged Freaks,” he read. “Huh. I mean… it’s both better
and worse than I thought it would be.”
“Better how?” Michael demanded but he was close to giggling and it was just
about the cutest thing ever.
"The main guy in the film is kind of hot?" Calum suggested hopefully and
Michael rolled his eyes, trying hard not to smile.
They’d both cooled down a lot by now. The windows in Calum’s living room had
been flung open but the curtains were shut to keep the sunlight out and the
room was much cooler now. Their glasses of half-finished lemonade sitting on
the coffee table were cold enough that the glass was decorated with beads of
condensation and Calum’s bare skin was sticking to the grey sofa he was
lounging on, his button-up lying discarded on the wooden floor because he was
too lazy to put it into the washing machine yet.
“Still too hot,” Michael mumbled and Calum fixed the younger boy with a curious
look. The seventeen year old was only wearing his vest now but they were both
still in skinny jeans which… was kind of stupid in such hot weather.
“We could just… I mean… watching films in boxers is cool, right?” Calum
suggested hesitantly, careful to keep his gaze fixed on the screen so that
Michael wouldn’t feel pressured. He felt the younger boy hesitate beside him
before, slowly, Michael’s hands fell to unbutton his jeans. He wriggled out of
them with only mild difficulty and, after a moment, Calum did the same.
It felt much nicer now that there was more cool air, at least until Michael
snorted out a laugh when he saw Calum’s lovely comic book boxers.
“Don’t judge me,” Calum teased, his eyes twinkling. “These are cool. They were
like… a whole five dollars or something.”
“Five dollars. Wow,” Michael said flatly but his lips were twitching as he
settled back down on the sofa. The younger boy’s head fell to rest on Calum’s
shoulder and the dark-haired man turned carefully, kissing the top of his
boyfriend’s head.
They watched the film quietly for a few more minutes before Michael’s face
fell, making Calum look down at him in mild concern.
“What’s wrong, kitten?” Calum asked softly. He hit the pause button on the
remote and the characters onscreen froze as, beside him, so did Michael.
“It’s nothing. My vest was just sticking to my back. It doesn’t matter,”
Michael said awkwardly, his voice quiet and unhappy. Calum bit his lip.
“You don’t want to take it off?” he asked gently and Michael shook his head,
his expression uncertain.
“I… I don’t like… how I look…” Michael’s cheeks were red as he twisted the hem
of the pale blue vest between his trembling fingers. “I’m not… I don’t look
like you do, Cal.” Michael wouldn’t meet his gaze but his cheeks were flaming
and Calum hated that he was hurting.
“But you… you look like you,” the older man said softly, hoping the
helplessness he was feeling wasn’t obvious in his tone. Calum cupped Michael’s
cheek gently and the younger boy let out a mournful sniff, finally meeting
Calum’s eyes. “You’re beautiful, Mikey. I swear you are.” Calum sighed softly,
his eyelashes fanning out on his cheeks as he looked down sadly. “I just wish
you could see it.”
“Probably not going to happen but… thank you all the same.” Michael’s cheeks
were still heated and Calum bit his lip, squeezing Michael’s shoulder
reassuringly.
“Maybe I could show you how lovely you are,” Calum whispered and it might have
been his imagination but Michael’s eyes looked faintly darker now.
“Oh yeah?” the younger boy breathed, his cheeks pink as he watched Calum,
swallowing audibly. “How’re you gonna do that?”
“Like this,” Calum answered, leaning forwards and cradling Michael’s cheek in
his palm as he kissed the younger boy gently. “Just say no if you want me to
stop,” Calum breathed but Michael stayed quiet, simply gripping the older man’s
muscular shoulders and pulling him closer as Michael parted his lips, deepening
the kiss.
Calum broke away to breathe after a few moments but Michael’s pupils were
definitely blown now as, with a determined look, he tugged his vest off over
his head. His skin was soft and pale – just what the dark-haired man had
expected – and Michael was so lovely that it made Calum want to cuddle him
close and never let him go again.
“Knew you were beautiful," Calum said and Michael's lips fell open in surprise.
Calum smiled gently. "See?” the older man whispered, pushing Michael gently
back against the sofa so that he could kiss his throat. “Nothing to be afraid
of, kitten.”
Calum’s lips trailed down his boyfriend’s chest and, although Michael’s breath
caught when Calum’s mouth drifted near his nipple, Calum didn’t move to take it
into his mouth, even if he did want to know what sounds he could draw out of
Michael with his tongue. He wasn’t sure the younger boy was totally there yet
though and the last thing Calum wanted to do was scare him.
“Cal,” Michael whined, his cheeks red as his hands slipped to cover his tummy
again. Calum nudged them aside lightly with his head which seemed to amuse
Michael if the slightly surprised laugh was anything to go by. Calum nuzzled
the soft, sweet-smelling skin there until Michael was giggling, tugging lightly
at Calum’s hair in a way that only kind of turned him on as he tugged Calum
away.
“Stop! Stop it!” Michael giggled breathlessly because apparently Calum’s lips
were tickling him.
“Never, kitten! You tickle-attacked me earlier! You deserve this!” Calum’s eyes
softened though and his voice dropped to a murmur as he leant in to nuzzle it
again, making Michael’s breath hitch. “You shouldn’t be shy of your tummy,
Mikey. It’s beautiful. It’s part of you, kitten.”
Michael’s lips were parted and his breathing was coming heavier when Calum
raised his head from the sensitive skin of his stomach. There was a flush
spreading down the younger boy's throat that looked almost like he was… turned
on?
Calum’s eyes fell down to Michael’s soft grey boxers and he pressed his lips
together to keep from groaning. “Can I?” Calum whispered and Michael nodded
jerkily. There was pre-cum leaking in a little damp patch on the front of the
boxers and Calum reached to smear his thumb over it lightly, making Michael
whine and jerk his hips.
His cheeks were redder than ever now and the flush was spreading all the way
down the younger boy's chest, and Michael had been cute earlier when he was
giggling but now he just looked hot with his soft golden hair and the way he
kept biting at his bottom lip.
Calum caught Michael’s lips in a soft kiss but Michael’s fingers tangled in his
boyfriend’s hair and he brought Calum closer, lips parting as his tongue
stroked hot over the older man’s.
Their hips brushed when Calum settled down over him and Michael whined as his
teeth caught on Calum’s full bottom lip. The dark-haired man pulled away with a
groan, ducking his head for a moment as his hands smoothed comfortingly down
the younger boy’s sides.
Michael’s hips jerked into Calum’s palm when the older man cupped him
hesitantly through the damp material and Michael shuddered, whining when he
felt Calum tracing his fingertip down the hard line of his boyfriend’s clothed
cock.
“How do you feel about taking these off?” Calum asked curiously but he grinned
when Michael immediately wriggled out of his boxers. His hard cock rested
flushed and leaking on his pale thigh as the younger boy’s fingers dipped under
the waistband of Calum’s boxers too, his expression hopeful.
“I’m taking them off! Just give me a chance,” the dark-haired man teased and
Michael was smiling now, his expression equal parts apprehensive and turned on
as he watched his boyfriend strip with dark eyes.
Michael sucked his bottom lip into his mouth to keep his moan in when he saw
Calum naked for the first time and if that didn’t give the older man a
confidence boost then nothing would.
Michael looked a little uncertain when Calum flopped down onto the sofa beside
him and the dark-haired man frowned faintly, his hand coming to rest
reassuringly on the younger boy’s shoulder.
“You okay, kitten?” Calum asked gently, taking in the slight blush colouring
Michael’s cheeks and the way his hand had slipped down to cover his tummy. “We
don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to, Mikey. I promise.” Calum’s eyes
were soft and, although Michael still looked embarrassed, he finally caught the
older man’s gaze, still worrying his lip between his teeth. “Do you just want
to watch the rest of the film?” Calum suggested.
It was growing hot enough in the living room that his dark hair was starting to
stick to his forehead but he knew it was way worse outside. The rays of
sunlight were illuminating the cracks around the curtains and Michael looked
small in the shadowy room.
“I do want this,” the younger boy promised and, despite how flushed his cheeks
still were, he seemed to mean it. “I just… I know you said all that stuff…
about how you think I’m... beautiful...” Michael was even more red now but he
was staring at Calum in something like wonder. “But -”
“You’re thinking too much,” Calum murmured, brushing soft kisses across
Michael’s knuckles. “Just let yourself feel... okay, kitten? I promise it will
be worth it.”
“Okay,” Michael said and he was kind of grinning despite himself now,
fingertips trailing warm over Calum’s hot skin, stroking over the muscles and
making heat pool in the older man's stomach. Calum’s hips rocked forwards
unconsciously when Michael’s fingers drifted timidly over his cock but then the
younger boy’s hands settled on his waist instead, his cherry-red lips curved
into a smile with too many teeth as he urged Calum closer.
“Cally, c’mon,” Michael pleaded but his cherry-red lips fell open with a gasp
when he felt the older man settling warmly over him, bare cocks catching
together as Calum rocked his hips down slowly.
“Damn, kitten,” Calum groaned, sucking a kiss into the pale skin of Michael’s
shoulder as the younger boy clung to him. “Feel so good.”
“Cal.” Michael’s voice already sounded wrecked, his pupils blown and his eyes
wider than ever as his hips rolled against Calum’s, cocks leaking between them.
It felt better this time; all slick skin and strangled whines, and Michael
swallowing his moans and choking on them as he rutted desperately against his
boyfriend, chasing release.
Calum stroked Michael’s golden hair back gently from his sweaty forehead and
the younger boy closed his eyes, losing himself in the sensations as pre-cum
smeared against his soft tummy when Calum rocked down again.
Michael was panting now, sweating and moaning as he sucked his cherry-red lip
into his mouth, whimpering when Calum’s tongue slid hot over his pale,
sensitive skin. When Michael’s fingers wound tightly into the older man’s curls
- a tiny smirk on his face like he already knew Calum loved it - the dark-
haired man started to near the end too.
Heat coiled tightly in his stomach as his cock caught against Michael’s but
there was desperation etched into Michael’s face now and Calum knew how he
felt. He caught his boyfriend’s lips in a surprisingly warm kiss that Michael
moaned into and, grinding down one more time, the older man lost control.
Calum came with a broken moan, arching his back as his fingers pressed into
Michael’s hips and the younger boy’s fingers pulled at his hair. Calum’s cum
shot between the warm press of their skin and Michael fell apart with a whine,
hips jerking and eyes rolling shut as he shuddered through it.
The room felt even hotter now and it was making Calum feel lethargic as he lay
there, head tucked into the warm curve of Michael’s neck as the younger boy
stroked his dark curls gently. Their skin was sticking together wherever they
were touching and Calum pushed himself up slowly, giving Michael an easy smile
as the golden-haired boy grinned at him. Michael’s tummy was totally covered
with cum now which was kind of gross but hot too probably, and the younger
boy’s hand twitched like he was considering running his fingers through it.
Calum caught his boyfriend’s hand, tangling their fingers together and pressing
a soft kiss to the younger boy’s knuckles as he lay sprawled there.
“We didn’t cool down after all,” Michael mumbled, lips twitching as he gazed up
at his boyfriend with sleepy, drooping eyes. Calum leant down to kiss him
gently.
“Do you want a bath with me, Mikey?” the dark-haired man asked hesitantly.
Michael considered it for a moment before he nodded as a smile curved his lips.
“Come on upstairs then, kitten. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Calum ran them a bath and kindly pretended not to notice when Michael touched
the white liquid drying sticky on his skin, smearing it about with his fingers.
His cheeks were red but he was biting his lip like maybe he didn’t totally hate
it and Calum considered that as he filled the bath with bubbles before climbing
in.
“You ready, kitten?” Calum asked gently and Michael’s bashful smile lit up his
face as he took his boyfriend’s extended hands, clambering in too. They sank
down into the warm water and Michael leant back against Calum’s chest, a
content smile on his face as his emerald eyes slid shut.
Calum dropped a kiss onto his boyfriend’s forehead and Michael hummed
agreeably, turning his head to nuzzle his beautiful face into Calum’s neck. The
water smelt good and Michael was a warm comforting weight in his arms, his
fingers stroking comforting patterns into his boyfriend’s tanned skin beneath
the water.
It was only when Michael opened his eyes and smiled up at him that Calum
realised he was falling in love.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you guys so much for reading!
     I really hope you liked it :)
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** Baby Boy *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm so so so sorry it took me so long to update but I hope you'll
     enjoy this!
     Mikey and Cal give me feels, and I missed writing them a lot <3
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Michael still hadn’t bought Fallout 4 yet.
He only got a couple of dollars a week as pocket money and he’d never had the
greatest willpower so he kept buying cool t-shirts when he went shopping so he
never saved up enough. Karen kept making pointed comments about him cleaning
the house for her in exchange for cash but the seventeen year old hadn't quite
sunk that low yet.
However, he had decided that he might offer to wash the neighbours’ cars.
They’d seemed thrilled about the idea, unfortunately. A part of Michael had
kind of been hoping they’d turn him down so he’d have an excuse to continue
being lazy.
Michael sighed dejectedly as he dropped the sponge into the bucket of soapy,
rapidly-cooling water. The sky was a vibrant blue overhead and the tarmac was
almost glittering in the heat haze as the baked summer air rolled up from the
paving stones. Michael had cleaned almost every car on his street now - and
he’d made close to forty dollars which still wasn’t quite enough - and his dad
had finally taken pity on him, saying Michael could clean his car for him and
he’d make up the difference.
Daryl and Karen had gone out for the day in Karen’s car, something about an art
exhibition at the local museum that Michael hadn’t been that interested in, and
Michael was getting bored now. The water was making his hands feel kind of sore
and Daryl’s car had been almost ridiculously muddy (apparently the car park at
work was in bad shape) but Michael was trying to convince himself that it was
worth it, even as he flopped down dramatically onto the floor of his driveway
and closed his eyes against the sun once he was finished.
It was calming for all of five seconds, until the sponge caught him straight in
the face and covered him in water.
Michael came up spluttering, wiping the probably-dirty water out of his emerald
green eyes as he looked around in mild alarm, only to feel a smile spreading
wide across his face when he heard Calum’s familiar bark of laughter as he
straightened up from where he’d been hiding behind the car.
“Hello, you,” Michael said, one eyebrow rising when he saw Calum still holding
the other sponge. It was dripping water and the older man grinned, dimples
creasing his cheeks as his dark curls fell into his eyes. He was wearing his
running clothes, sweat beading on his tanned skin as he stuck his tongue out at
Michael cheekily. “Any particular reason you tried to assault me with a
sponge?”
“Just thought it’d be funny,” Calum smiled with a shrug, pretending to examine
his fingernails although the younger boy would have to have been blind not to
see the way Calum was measuring the distance between them with a calculated
expression. Meanwhile, Michael was edging towards the bucket where the fallen
sponge was sitting.
“Oh no you don’t!” Calum yelled and then everything was a bit of a blur as
Michael flung himself towards the bucket, grabbed the sponge, and rolled to
fling it at Calum, just as the older man sprawled over him and squeezed the
water all over his boyfriend.
“Don’t!” Michael shrieked, giggling so hard it came out sounding breathless as
he writhed. “It’s dirty, Cal! Stop it!”
The seventeen year old’s white t-shirt was basically see-through now and the
dark-haired man was still pretty much sitting on top of him. Calum seemed to
realise at exactly the same time because his eyes darkened and he stopped
laughing although the faint smile never entirely faded from his handsome face.
“Cal,” Michael breathed and the dark-haired man’s full lips tugged into a smile
that was almost a smirk as he climbed up, extending a hand to help a blushing
Michael rise too. Calum brushed some bubbles from Michael’s cheek and the
younger boy gazed up at him, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth as he
tilted his head to the side curiously.
“Dad’s car is all clean now,” Michael said slowly, glancing down as he picked
at his soaking t-shirt with his thumb and forefinger. “Sun’s drying it already.
Can’t say the same for me though.”
“Maybe you need a shower, kitten,” Calum said in a low voice, his dark gaze
following Michael’s as his eyes tracked his boyfriend’s chest. Calum swallowed
audibly.
“So do you,” Michael said and he was pleasantly surprised when his voice didn’t
break like it wanted to. “Maybe we should help each other.”
Calum was grinning as he dropped his hand to entwine his fingers with his
boyfriend’s. Apparently that was all it took to make his face light up with a
smile and Michael was so glad he’d plucked up the courage to say it; Calum’s
smile was so beautiful that it made Michael’s head spin.
“Your place or mine?” the older man said and Michael hesitated for a moment
before he tugged them towards Calum’s house. Better safe than sorry and he’d
just remembered that first day in Calum’s living room when he’d pictured being
in the shower with the older man and… fuck, the knowledge that that was about
to become a reality was more than Michael could stand.
“Hurry up,” Michael mumbled, cheeks flaming as Calum patted the pockets of his
navy blue shorts, searching for his keys.
“Needy,” Calum noted but his lips were curving up into a grin now and Michael
couldn’t help but press closer to his boyfriend, arms wrapping around the older
man’s waist as he huffed out a grudging laugh.
“Shut up,” Michael grinned, rosy cheeks aching with how hard he was smiling as
Calum finally got the door open and ushered him into the hallway. The golden-
haired boy kicked his shoes off and Calum pressed a brief kiss to his
boyfriend’s lips before he disappeared off to grab a quick glass of water.
“A pint of water, huh? That’s romantic,” Michael pouted and Calum laughed,
almost choking on his drink.
“I can’t focus on making you feel great if I’m dehydrated,” Calum said which
was just… unacceptable.
“You can’t just - just insinuate things like that!” Michael spluttered but
Calum was pretending to be innocent now as he squeezed Michael’s hand again,
towing the younger boy carefully upstairs. Michael had only been up here a few
times but he’d never paid much attention as he’d always been either desperate
for Calum to touch him - like he may or may not have been now - or orgasm-drunk
which wasn’t exactly conducive to paying attention.
“You good, Mikey?” Calum checked quietly when the golden-haired boy hesitated
in the doorway. Calum’s expression was gentle when the younger boy tilted his
head to look at him and Calum practically beamed when Michael stretched up on
his tiptoes to kiss him.
“Definitely,” the younger boy replied and, if Michael sounded breathless, Calum
was kind enough not to mention it.
Their clothes fell onto the bathroom floor quickly and Michael grimaced as he
peeled his soaking t-shirt off carefully. Calum snorted when he saw the
disgruntled expression on his boyfriend’s face but his chocolate brown eyes
became gentle as he stepped closer, warm skin pressing up against Michael’s as
he carded his fingers gently through the younger boy’s hair. He knew it was a
big deal that Michael showed himself to Calum like this and the older man
wasn't taking it lightly.
“Shower now, kitten?” Calum prompted gently and Michael gave a contented hum,
nodding as his arms came up to slip around the older man’s shoulders. Michael
didn’t feel so self-conscious like this; not when Calum had just kissed his
forehead and rubbed his hand comfortingly down the younger boy’s ribs as he
reached to turn the shower on.
“Music?” Michael suggested and Calum’s smile was warm as he found his phone in
the pocket of his shorts nearby, thumbing through his playlist quickly before
he settled on a track.
“Out in the wild, party in nowhere land, we start a fire; sparklers in every
hand. No phones, let go. Cut all the strings tonight.”
Michael’s face split into a happy smile when he identified The Summer Set's
Lightning In A Bottle playing and Calum’s dimples creased his cheeks as he drew
Michael closer again. The water heated up quickly and the younger boy could
barely hide his smile in Calum’s broad shoulder as the dark-haired man helped
him climb in carefully. The water was hot and Michael’s breath escaped him in a
contented sigh when Calum’s hands ran down his back again, the touch almost
reverent as his full lips found Michael’s.
"Singin' aloud, howlin' right at the moon. We're making out. Life's never felt
so good. Bring on the storm. We're willin' out tonight."
Michael’s small hands slipped curiously over Calum’s chest, fingertips dipping
between the muscles as they tensed under Michael’s hands. The younger boy’s
lips parted and Calum pressed closer with a little groan, his tongue sliding
hot over Michael’s before he drew back to suck the younger boy’s full bottom
lip into his mouth.
"Then you lost your shoes as it started to rain and your jeans soaked through
but you smiled anyway. Throw your hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts
in the air."
Michael whimpered when he felt the faintest hint of Calum’s teeth, the hot
swipe of his tongue as he sucked the sting away, and Michael’s hands were
clumsy as they slid to grip his boyfriend’s hips, head spinning as his blood
rushed south.
"We're catching lightning in a bottle. Don't give a fuck about tomorrow.”
Calum was hard now too. Michael could feel it as their cocks caught slickly
together between the heat of their bodies and it was making Michael’s cheeks
flame scarlet as Calum rocked against him gently, making the pleasure building
in Michael smoulder like hot coals in his stomach as he moaned helplessly.
“Yeah, we're dancing in the backseat. We don't need gravity here in the
afterglow."
“Kitten,” Calum said and his voice was lower now, rougher with something that
made heat spark pleasantly in Michael’s stomach. “Turn around for me, baby
boy.”
Michael moaned again without meaning to as he hurried to do what the older man
had said, his cheeks stained with blood at the pet name as lust crashed over
him like a wave. Calum hadn’t even touched him properly yet and already Michael
felt like he was just seconds away from falling apart. The younger boy glanced
down as Calum pressed close behind him and Michael groaned softly when he saw
how hard he was; how flushed and red his cock looked as pre-cum welled up at
the tip, washing away beneath the shower spray.
"Yeah, we're rolling with the thunder. Now take a breath, we're going under.”
“You want this, kitten?” Calum checked again and Michael almost knocked him in
the face when he nodded frantically, his heart hammering in his ribs because…
god, they’d never touched each other like this before. Not properly but… fuck,
Michael wanted it so much.
“Yes,” the younger boy gasped raggedly and Calum hid his smile in Michael’s
shoulder as his long fingers curled gently around the younger boy’s cock.
Michael whimpered, slumping back against Calum as his legs threatened to give
out beneath him at the sudden, shocking pleasure pulsing through him.
It just felt so good when Calum touched him like this and Michael couldn’t
believe it made such a difference with someone else’s hand but - fuck, Calum
was touching his cock. Calum was jerking him off because he wanted to make
Michael cum and… and fuck, Michael was going to finish embarrassingly quickly.
"We're getting busy on the backstreets. We don't need gravity here in the
afterglow."
Calum nudged Michael’s feet apart carefully as the water beat down around them,
correcting his stance like he’d done that day when they were boxing. Michael
groaned quietly when he felt the damp heat of Calum’s cock brushing against him
and he braced his hands on the wet tiles, letting his head fall forwards as
Calum drew his fist firmly up the length of his boyfriend’s cock.
"Back of the car; blankets and me and you. We're running on perfectly wasted
youth."
Michael felt a little insecure when Calum’s free hand stroked gently across his
tummy but Calum was still scattering kisses across the younger boy’s shoulders
and, when Calum murmured how beautiful he thought Michael was, the golden-
haired boy stopped worrying.
Calum's fingers felt too good rolling around the head of his cock and the
warmth in his chest felt a lot like love when Calum cuddled him closer, his
thighs warm where they were pressed against Michael’s, his cock hot as it slid
gently between the younger boy’s cheeks - the perfect kind of friction.
"I'll hold you close. We'll call this home tonight."
When Calum reached down carefully between Michael’s spread legs and cupped his
balls, Michael almost came there and then. A high whimpering sound tore out of
him and he could barely stay upright anymore as the heat in his stomach
tightened at the steady burn of pleasure.
“So good, kitten,” Calum groaned, the words humid against the back of Michael’s
neck, making the golden-haired boy shudder as Calum’s cock leaked pre-cum,
throbbing against his pale skin. “Feel so good.”
Michael didn’t think his voice was steady enough to risk answering back. He
simply rocked his hips into Calum’s fist and whined brokenly when the pad of
Calum’s thumb rubbed teasingly over the slit, making him see stars.
"And the fake tattoo that you drew on my arm had an X and an O. Never change
who you are."
Michael’s breath was tearing out of him in gasps now and the flush was
spreading down to his chest as Calum hooked his chin over Michael’s pale
shoulder, teeth grazing the younger boy’s earlobe. Michael whined when he felt
Calum’s smile curling against his sensitive skin. The dark-haired man ducked
his head, sucking a tiny kiss into Michael’s shoulder so that a bruise the size
of a flower petal bloomed there.
Michael’s cock leaked, so hard now that his legs were shaking beneath him, and
Calum’s lips dragging hot down the younger boy’s neck made Michael want to fall
down as the older man continued to roll his hips against his boyfriend.
"Throw our hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air."
Calum wasn’t shy about chasing his release and Michael’s hands were sliding on
the tiles as Calum fucked up against him, the friction so hot and goddamn
perfect that Michael couldn’t quite stop himself from picturing where they
might one day end up and… and god, the thought of Calum fucking him one day was
too much for Michael to handle.
His hips jerked and his balls drew up tight to his body, and Calum dragged his
lips across the soft skin behind his boyfriend’s ear as his free hand slipped
up the younger boy’s chest.
"We're catching lightning in a bottle. Don't give a fuck about tomorrow."
“Mikey,” Calum murmured and his voice was so rough now that Michael turned his
face away, whimpering into his pale shoulder as Calum’s hips kept rocking.
Calum was so close to climaxing now and he wasn’t trying to hold back; the last
time they’d been together Michael had seemed to thoroughly enjoy the sticky
mess on his stomach and Calum figured maybe this was something Michael liked.
“You want me to cum, kitten?” Calum whispered, lips brushing the shell of
Michael’s ear gently as the younger boy gave a choked moan when his boyfriend
tightened his fist. Michael nodded jerkily, squeezing his eyes shut for a
moment as his cheeks flamed. “You want me to cum… on you?” Calum’s tone was
soft and hesitant at best but there was something cocksure in his smirk that
had Michael unravelling rapidly in the cradle of Calum’s arms.
“Fuck, Cally, please,” Michael cried. “Please, please, please.”
"Yeah, we're dancing in the backseat. We don't need gravity here in the
afterglow."
Michael reached behind him blindly, pale fingers tangling too-tight in Calum’s
dark curls as he pulled at them, and Calum bit Michael’s shoulder as he came
with a groan all over the younger boy’s arse.
The feeling of hot wetness spreading over his skin punched a strangled groan
out of Michael and he was almost crying now, hips jerking desperately into the
older man’s hand as he lost his rhythm.
"Yeah, we're rolling with the thunder. Now take a breath, we're going under."
Calum kissed Michael’s bruised shoulder in a gentle apology when his hips
finally stopped moving but Michael was restless now as Calum’s cum smeared
between them, making his toes curl with pleasure as the hot water dripped down
his face like tears.
“Gonna make you cum, kitten,” Calum murmured and Michael nodded jerkily, cheeks
flaming, eyes desperate. “Gonna make you cum so hard you can’t stand up
anymore. You want that, kitten? Yeah?”
Michael moaned his affirmation and Calum smiled as he turned Michael carefully,
pressing him back against the tiles which had luckily warmed with the hot
water. One of the older man's thighs slipped between Michael’s legs, giving him
some support, and Michael whimpered helplessly at the friction.
"We're getting busy on the backstreets. We don't need gravity here in the
afterglow, here in the afterglow."
Michael spread his hands on the tiles like starfishes, breaths tearing out of
him loudly when Calum took the younger boy’s cock into his hand again,
spreading the pre-cum up and down the shaft as Michael’s knees trembled beneath
him.
Calum loved seeing Michael spread out for him like this. It reminded him of
that day after they’d ran around on the beach and spent time in the forest.
Michael had lay down on the sofa with him, utterly naked, and so soft and warm
that it had taken Calum’s breath away, and the older man had been afraid of
breaking him… but Calum wasn’t afraid of that now. He could see the life
thrumming in Michael’s veins and there was nothing fragile about the younger
boy, no matter what either of them might think.
Michael looked so much more than alive.
"Hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air. Throw our hearts in
the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air."
When Calum dropped his head to suck one of Michael’s nipples into his mouth,
the younger boy’s hips jerked hard and his head fall back against the wall with
a dull thud as a wrecked moan tore out of him. His flushed cock was throbbing
in Calum’s fist now and, when the dark-haired man pinched the other nipple
lightly between his fingers as he licked hot over the first, Michael fell apart
with a broken cry.
"We're catching lightning in a bottle. Don't give a fuck about tomorrow. Yeah,
we're dancing in the backseat. We don't need gravity here in the afterglow."
Michael came hard, spilling over Calum’s fingers as his hips jerked uselessly,
legs giving way beneath him. Calum’s arms slipped warmly around his waist to
hold him up, his lips brushing Michael’s damp golden hair gently as the younger
boy sobbed into his neck, completely overwhelmed.
“Hey, kitten,” Calum said softly, rocking Michael in his arms as he stroked the
younger boy’s soft waist gently. “Hey, Mikey, it’s okay.”
Calum kissed his forehead and Michael tilted his head back, his beautiful tear-
streaked face saturated with a beautiful mixture of lust, weariness, and
something too precious to name.
"Yeah, we're rolling with the thunder. Now take a breath, we're going under.
We're getting busy on the backstreets. We don't need gravity here in the
afterglow, here in the afterglow, here in the afterglow."
“My god, you’re so beautiful,” Calum whispered, dropping a kiss onto Michael’s
nose.
The golden-haired boy smiled bashfully, ducking his head as he pressed a soft
kiss to Calum’s collarbone, still clinging on tightly because his legs were
shaky beneath him.
“I like it when you call me baby boy,” Michael breathed, almost too quiet to
hear. “And kitten. I like it a lot.”
“I like you a lot,” Calum countered softly.
"Hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air.
Here in the afterglow."
“I like you too, Cal,” Michael said but the word didn’t feel like enough
somehow. A crease appeared on his forehead and Calum’s lovely, chocolate brown
eyes softened as he kissed it away with a gentle brush of his lips.
“You’re lovely, you are,” Calum mumbled, nose brushing Michael’s gently when
the younger boy looked up at him with wide eyes. Calum smiled his crinkly-eyed
smile like the gigantic dork he was and Michael’s heart melted in his chest as
he pulled the older man down into a hug.
"Hearts in the air, hearts in the air, hearts in the air. Here in the
afterglow."
Michael didn’t want to keep this a secret anymore and the knowledge of that
shocked him as his heart ached in his chest. Calum kissed him gently and
Michael’s stomach felt like it was full of butterflies as that odd ache in his
chest made itself apparent again.
He thought he might be falling in love and the knowledge didn’t scare him at
all which was probably the strangest thing.
“Don’t let go of me, Cal,” Michael said softly, keeping his arms locked tight
around the older man’s waist. “Don’t you dare let go.”
“I won’t, Mikey,” Calum murmured, dropping another kiss onto the younger boy’s
hair as the water pounded down hot around them. “I promise. Not ever.”
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading! :)
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** You're All I Need *****
Chapter Notes
     This is so long and fluffy and angsty and smutty, and I'm not
     exaggerating when I tell you that it took me over 10 hours to write.
     I hope you don't hate it!!
     By the way, if all goes to plan, this should be the angstiest chapter
     in the fic so that's something! It's positively tame by my usual
     standards...
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Calum took Michael to the zoo next Saturday.
The day dawned bright and hot, the sky an unblemished pale blue that was
interrupted only by the gulls wheeling in the air overhead. Calum and Michael
drove along in the older man’s car with the windows rolled down, both singing
along to the music Michael had picked out with excited smiles on their faces.
Calum held his boyfriend’s hand over the gear shift and Michael couldn’t quite
wrestle the smile from his face.
“You excited, kitten?” Calum asked when he saw Michael’s grin as they drove
into the carpark. The younger boy looked over at him with glittering green
eyes, practically beaming as he jiggled excitedly in his seat.
“Um… how about yes!” Michael was basically giggling now and it was just about
the cutest thing ever. “This is going to be the best day ever! We’re going to
the zoo, Cal! I need to see the lions! I need to see the flamingos! I need –”
“Sun cream,” Calum interrupted with a look of forced innocence upon his face.
“You need sun cream or your mum will never let me take you out again.”
“But I don't want it! And it’s hot putting it on in your car with the windows
shut,” the younger boy complained in a whiny tone. Michael sat there pouting
while the older man applied the sun cream but Calum froze when he was smoothing
the sun cream into Michael’s arm because –
“Mikey,” Calum said and his voice was kind of embarrassingly thick now. “You’re
still wearing the bracelet I made you?”
Michael ducked his head bashfully but his smile was soft as he entwined his
fingers gently with Calum’s, his quiet: “I haven’t taken it off, Cal” almost
too soft to hear. Calum sniffled, dimples creasing his cheeks as he drew
Michael into a slightly awkward hug in the stuffy, cramped space.
“You’re really cute,” Calum said thickly, his chocolate brown eyes all twinkly
and soft. “You know that, Mikey? You’re the sweetest.”
“You gigantic softy,” Michael teased but his smile was loving. “C’mon, Cally.
Let’s go see us some animals, okay?”
“Okay,” Calum said, rolling his eyes fondly although they fluttered shut when
Michael leant forwards to press a gentle kiss to his lips. The golden-haired
boy drew back after a few seconds, a satisfied smile on his face.
“Now let’s get out of this oven.”
                                       *
Michael hadn’t been joking when he told Calum he loved the zoo.
The very moment Calum had bought their tickets, Michael had escaped and it was
only the older man’s fingers entwined with his boyfriend’s that kept Calum from
losing an over-excited Michael in the crowd. He was like a puppy almost and it
was ridiculously endearing.
Calum remembered that day the pair of them had lay together in his garden
discussing going to the zoo one day and Michael was true to his word. He really
did rush around everywhere and trip over his own feet a lot but, luckily for
him, Calum found the whole situation adorable and was there to catch him
whenever he stumbled.
The weather had turned a little cooler as the day went on and, while Michael
had originally been downhearted about this, Calum had quickly reassured him
that it was better this way. If it was too hot then the animals tended to hide
away in the shade so at least now they’d actually be able to see them properly.
“Cal, there’s a snake! Look!”
“OH MY GOD, CALUM! A TIGER! A TIGER!”
“Cally, look! Tapirs! They have tapirs!”
Michael’s excited outbursts went on this way for some time and Calum’s face was
aching from smiling by the time they stopped for lunch. There was a restaurant
in the central plaza and Calum couldn’t hold his laughter in when the younger
boy excitedly hauled him towards the pizza bar like a puppy on a lead.
“Hey,” Calum said, somewhat defensively, when Michael burst out laughing as his
boyfriend joined him at the table Michael had managed to secure. He was
balancing a tray piled high with food and he was blushing as he fought not to
smile. “I’m still bulking up so triple cheese pizza with extra pepperoni is
allowed, okay? We have our first football game of the season tomorrow!”
“Captain Calum,” Michael said, and snorted. Calum flicked a piece of pepperoni
at him and barked with laughter when Michael caught it in his mouth.
“Excellent coordination,” Calum teased and Michael smiled smugly.
The next piece hit him on the nose.
                                       *
They went to the petting enclosure after they’d finished eating and Michael was
calmer now, fingers tangled with Calum’s as they wandered between the families
milling around. They knelt to meet piglets and lambs, and Michael smiled so
wide he had to tuck his face away into his boyfriend’s neck when a chinchilla
allowed the younger boy to pet it.
“We should go to one of those conservation centres one day,” Calum said quietly
as they headed into the outdoor enclosure to meet the rabbits and guinea pigs.
“Those ones just for marsupials, right?”
“I’d love that,” Michael said with shining eyes. “I’ve never held a koala
before.”
“You’re the worst Australian ever,” Calum teased and Michael raised an eyebrow
as he straightened up, suppressing his smile with difficulty when his
boyfriend’s arms wound gently around his waist.
“Have you held one then?” Michael countered. Calum hesitated, lips twitching.
“No,” he admitted and Michael giggled into his neck. “I never have. I heard
they can give you chlamydia if they pee on you.”
Michael cackled before he could stop himself.
“No, Calum!” Michael gasped out, still laughing helplessly. “They don’t all
have it and they only pass it amongst themselves anyway. Next thing I know
you’ll be telling me you think drop bears are real!”
“Well, I used to think they were real,” Calum said, eyes crinkling as he
smiled. “Mali convinced me they were and it pretty much traumatised me. I was
scared to walk under the trees in our back garden for weeks. My mum had to –”
Calum faltered and the flicker of pain on his face was only visible for the
most fleeting of seconds. Michael frowned, stretching up onto his tiptoes and
catching Calum’s lips in a gentle kiss.
“I’m sorry you’re sad,” the golden-haired boy whispered. Calum smiled and it
touched his eyes.
“I’m not sad, Mikey. I’m with you.”
Michael couldn’t resist kissing his boyfriend then, small hands rising to
cradle the older man’s face gently. Michael wanted to tell Calum he loved him
and the words were almost out of his mouth before he caught himself, pressing a
slightly wide-eyed kiss to Calum’s shoulder through the navy blue t-shirt the
older man was wearing.
“You want to have a look in the gift shop before we leave?” Calum asked gently
and Michael pressed his lips together tightly, giving a wordless nod. He
squeezed the older man’s hand again and Calum smiled, leading the way.
The sky was grey outside now as the clouds rolled in but Michael didn’t mind.
Calum had shrugged out of his hoodie a little while ago and draped it around
the younger boy’s shoulders, and Michael was probably never going to take it
off. It was warm and it gave him sweater paws and it had zip-up pockets inside,
and it smelt like Calum which was to say that it was the single best piece of
clothing Michael had ever had the fortune to wear.
The younger boy picked out a nice leather bracelet for Calum, a flamingo
bookmark for his mum, and a monkey keyring for his dad which he paid for with
his pocket money – Fallout 4 could wait – while the older man sneakily went to
buy a stuffed toy at the till. He wouldn’t let Michael see what it was until
they were outside the shop and the golden-haired boy gave an excited squeak
when Calum pushed the soft koala toy into Michael’s arms.
“There you go,” Calum murmured, ducking his head shyly. “Now you’ve held one,
kitten.”
“And I didn’t get chlamydia,” Michael said, ruining the moment. Calum’s bark of
laughter seemed to surprise him and he ruffled Michael’s hair, slinging his arm
around the younger boy’s shoulders.
“You’re so silly,” Calum teased fondly and Michael’s cheeks heated with blood
as he gave a little bow. The dark-haired man smiled, his hand warm and
comforting on his boyfriend’s shoulder as he led him back towards the car park.
“Come on, baby boy,” Calum said gently, dropping a kiss onto Michael’s soft
golden hair. “Time to go home.”
                                       *
Calum dropped Michael off just before five o’clock and the younger boy jerked
awake in surprise when Calum’s hand settled gently on his knee. Michael had
somehow managed to sleep the whole way home without realising it, snuggled up
warmly in Calum’s hoodie with his new koala lying in his lap, and he was sad
he’d missed the opportunity to talk with Calum.
They were parked in the older man’s driveway now and Michael glanced warily
towards his house where his parents’ car was parked nearby. His breath escaped
him in a quiet sigh when he realised Daryl must be at home too.
Michael was sick of hiding how he felt.
“I had a lovely time today,” Michael said softly. “Thank you.” Calum held his
hand and Michael’s cheeks flushed when Calum pressed a gentle kiss to his
knuckles.
“So did I,” Calum said and, despite the faint wistfulness to his expression –
maybe he didn’t want the day to be over either – his eyes were warm. “But you
get inside now, kitten. Go in the warm… and you can keep the hoodie, okay? You
look cute in it.”
Michael risked pressing a fleeting kiss to Calum’s full lips, almost defiant of
his father spotting him now. He left his hand lingering on Calum’s cheek and
the dark-haired man covered it warmly with his own.
“Thank you. I’ll text you later or something,” Michael said softly. “And good
luck for your football game tomorrow.” The younger boy paused for a moment,
inhaling shakily before he squared his jaw, his face even paler than usual.
“Calum, I…”
The silence in the car stretched and the dark-haired man watched him
uncertainly.
“Michael?” Calum asked weakly, forehead creasing when the younger boy’s voice
failed him. “Kitten, what is it?”
The golden-haired boy swallowed audibly, managing a weak grimace in lieu of a
smile.
“I think… I think I’m going to come out to my dad tonight,” Michael said, voice
little more than a whisper. “I had such a lovely time with you today and… I
don’t know. I don’t want to feel like I have to hide this… how I feel about
you… how good we are.”
Calum’s dark eyes were wide as he carded his fingers gently through Michael’s
golden hair, trying in vain to calm the faintly trembling boy sitting across
from him.
Calum didn’t promise that everything was going to be okay and Michael just
appreciated it a lot. All the older man did was undo his boyfriend’s seatbelt
and draw Michael gently into his lap.
“You’ve still got me, kitten,” Calum promised, rubbing the younger boy’s back
soothingly as he kissed his forehead. “No matter what happens, you’ve still got
me. I promise.”
                                       *
Calum felt strange when he let himself into his empty house that evening.
Goosebumps rose on his arms now that he was without his hoodie and he felt sad
without Michael there… almost lost. They’d had such a lovely day together
though and that was what Calum was trying to focus on now. Seeing Michael
smiling and laughing, and looking so happy… well, that was just about Calum’s
very favourite thing in the world.
He made himself a sandwich for dinner that night, not really hungry after the
ridiculous amount of pizza they’d had for lunch. Calum kept himself busy that
evening. He checked he had everything ready for his football game tomorrow,
including uniform and timings; he double-checked he had enough food in the
fridge to appease Mali and Tom when they came round after the game for dinner;
and then he took a long shower and tried to ignore the ache in his chest as he
texted Michael a simple: ‘I hope it goes okay. X’
It didn’t feel like enough and Calum definitely wanted to say more – namely, ‘I
love you’ – but he didn’t want to overwhelm Michael. He wasn’t totally sure the
younger boy was quite there yet and there was no point making things
uncomfortable unnecessarily. Not when they were already good like this.
Calum didn’t turn the television on when he finally settled down in the living
room. He just slumped back on the sofa and stared silently up at the ceiling
instead, allowing his dark eyes to close for a moment.
God, he hoped Michael was okay.
The night Calum came out was one of his worst probably. His parents kicked him
out and he had nowhere to go. Calum had sat on the kerb outside his house,
flinching when his father threw a bag of his stuff out onto the pavement nearby
but still refusing to budge as he reeled with shock at how badly everything had
gone.
Calum ended up going to Luke’s house and crashing on his sofa for the next few
weeks until he scraped together enough cash to buy himself a suit, get a job,
and eventually move in with Ashton and Bryana for a few months until he could
get his feet under him. By that point, Mali had come back home from university
and Calum had been able to carry on.
He wasn’t dumb. He knew he wouldn’t have been able to move on at all if it
hadn’t been for his support network and that thought worried Calum too… what
Michael might do if this all went south.
As far as Calum knew, Michael didn’t have too many friends at school. He didn’t
get on with the other students and they seemed to leave him out a bit, and it
cut Calum up inside that maybe he and Karen were all Michael had... but no.
Calum’s friends were Michael’s friends too, even if the younger boy didn’t
realise that right now. The others already thought it. They asked Calum to
bring Michael along all the time and Bryana was completely smitten with him.
(Calum couldn’t really blame her there.)
His phone sat on the coffee table nearby, screen dark, and Calum felt unease
churning in his stomach. Michael hadn’t texted him back yet. He always texted
back so quickly but… but not this time.
For just a moment, Calum managed to convince himself that he could hear raised
voices faintly through the wall but maybe he just had an overactive
imagination.
Calum’s heartbeat sounded loud in the sudden silence and the dark-haired man
went out into the hallway without knowing why. He sat at the bottom of the
stairs with his phone clutched tightly in his hands, turning it over silently
as the moon rose in the sky outside and his leg began to jiggle, too restless
to sit still.
Finally, Calum’s phone screen lit up with an incoming call and he hurt his
thumb hitting the answer button so hard.
“Mike?” Calum was instantly anxious. “Are you okay? How did it go? I was –” He
heard a shaky intake of breath over the phone, followed by an even shakier one
and… god, Michael must be crying.
“Kitten?” Calum murmured and Michael’s sob sounded loud over the phone.
“Can I... can I come over and –” He was crying so hard he could barely talk and
Calum’s heart sank like a stone in his chest.
“Of course,” the dark-haired man said softly, his voice thick with tears as he
got up to unlock the front door. “Of course you can, Mikey.”
Michael appeared in under a minute, his hair shower-damp, and his small body
covered with pyjamas and Calum’s hoodie. His pale face was flushed and blotchy
from getting upset, and Calum opened his arms wordlessly as he pulled Michael
into a tight hug.
The younger boy started crying again and Calum’s heart broke in his chest as he
rocked his boyfriend gently, scattering kisses over Michael’s soft golden hair
as his tears soaked Calum’s pyjama top.
The front door to the Clifford house opened and Calum stiffened defensively,
his expression turning stony as he held Michael closer, backing out of the
light rain that was just beginning to fall. He needn’t have worried though; it
was just Karen following her only son with tears in her eyes and a bag of what
seemed to be clean clothes for Michael to wear tomorrow.
“I’m so sorry,” Karen said softly when she got close and Michael whimpered when
he heard her, burrowing closer to Calum’s chest with his flaming cheeks as she
squeezed her son’s shoulder gently. Calum looked up at her helplessly, aware
that she had always accepted Michael no matter what but finding little comfort
in it now.
“I hope it’s okay if Mike stays with you tonight? I… I don’t think him staying
at home with… with Daryl tonight…” Her voice trailed away delicately with
something like disappointment and Michael flinched, wriggling his hand up
between the warm press of their bodies so that he could bite at his own fist in
an effort to stay quiet. Calum stopped him gently, cupping Michael’s sweaty
tear-streaked face in both of his hands as he dropped a kiss onto the younger
boy’s forehead.
“I’ll look after him,” Calum promised, never once taking his eyes from Michael.
“I promise. For as long as he needs.”
Michael covered his mouth with the too-long sleeves of Calum’s hoodie, his eyes
agonised as the tears rolled down his cheeks. Calum knew how he felt. Despite
having been raised in an environment that had clearly discouraged same-sex
relationships, Calum had hoped that maybe his parents would be able to make an
exception for him… and that denial being torn away had cut him deeper than
anything.
This was how Michael felt now.
“Let me take him inside… out of the rain,” Calum said quietly and Karen pressed
her lips together hard, her expression pained but fiercely grateful as she
kissed the top of Michael’s head before she passed the bag of clothes to Calum.
“Thank you,” she said softly, green eyes sliding to Michael’s pained
expression. “I love you, baby. I’m so sorry… but he’ll come round. I know he
will. I’ll make him see sense. It just might take a little while.”
“Thank you,” Calum said and Michael pressed closer, tucking his face away into
the comforting smell of the older man’s neck as his little fingers wound
through Calum’s dark curls. “Thank you for trusting me with him.”
Karen smiled sadly and her eyes were wet with tears.
“Of course, Calum,” she said softly. “Who else?”
                                       *
Calum wasn’t sure he was properly equipped to deal with a heartbroken seventeen
year old but, god, he was going to try.
Calum went upstairs and got his softest, fluffiest blanket from the
wardrobe; made hot chocolate and dug around in the cupboards until he found an
unopened packet of chocolate chip cookies; and re-entered the dimly lit living
room to find Michael sitting where he’d left him, with his arms wrapped tightly
around himself and tears drying sticky on his cheeks. Calum’s heart broke for
him but he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand, setting the tray
holding their drinks and the plate of cookies on the table before he wrapped
the blanket gently around his boyfriend’s shoulders.
Calum kissed Michael’s nose gently and the younger boy tried for a smile that
almost reached his eyes as he stuffed half of a cookie into his mouth, chased
it down his some hot chocolate, and pretty much threw himself into Calum’s
arms.
“Hello,” the younger boy said softly, cheeks stained red and golden hair
sticking up messily where he’d been running his fingers through it.
“Hello,” Calum said, smiling a tiny bit when Michael leant down to kiss him.
“Do you want to watch a film or something? Kill some time before bed?”
Michael thought about it for a moment before he shook his head slowly, his eyes
glistening in the lamplight, the shadows stretching on the walls like ink. The
curtains were pulled tightly shut and the blanket had fallen down around them.
Everything felt comforting and safe now. Calum never wanted to let Michael go.
“No,” the younger boy whispered, his pale hand trembling as his fingers rose to
brush Calum’s lips. “Will… will you kiss me please? I want to forget.” Michael
closed his eyes for a moment, his eyelashes fanning out on his cheeks as he
inhaled shakily, struggling to calm himself. “I n-need to forget.”
Michael’s voice cracked and Calum considered this for a long moment before
shrugging, not seeing any harm in it. Michael seemed to have calmed down now
and Calum didn’t think kissing Michael until he felt a little better could make
things worse.
“Sure, kitten,” the dark-haired man promised, pushing Michael lightly back down
onto the sofa before he settled over him carefully. Michael’s beautiful face
wasn’t so blotchy now but his eyelashes were still spiky with tears so Calum
was determined to play this carefully. “You just tell me if you want us to
stop, okay?”
“Okay, Cally,” Michael promised but his eyes were already falling shut as his
fingers tangled deliciously tightly in the dark-haired man’s hair and Calum
focused on making him stop hurting.
Calum was content to kiss Michael gently but the younger boy surged up to meet
him, a muffled groan escaping Calum when Michael’s teeth caught his bottom lip.
The kiss was hungry enough that heat pooled in Calum’s stomach and he drew away
with a gasp, leaving breathless kisses on the pale column of Michael’s throat
as the younger boy squirmed beneath him.
“Cal,” Michael gasped out, his eyes falling shut as the older man grinded down
gently. “Cal, please –”
“Of course. I’ve got you, kitten.” Calum’s voice was low and rougher with lust
but his fingers were so gentle as he carefully undid the zip of the hoodie,
revealing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pyjama top hiding underneath. Calum’s
dimples creased his cheeks but his eyes grew darker when he saw the faint
bruise he’d left on the underside of his boyfriend’s jaw. “God, you’re so cute,
Mikey. So beautiful, baby boy. Love kissing you. Love touching you so much.”
Calum rolled his hips again and Michael flung his head back into the cushions
with a whine, his lips falling open, his eyes screwing shut as his chest
heaved.
“Fuck, Cal!” Michael’s voice was strangled, his cheeks staining red again as
his fingers twisted in the soft material of the blanket. He was hard now,
leaking inside his pyjama trousers as Calum gently rocked his hips down,
swallowing the moan that escaped Michael in a heated kiss.
“Beautiful,” Calum repeated and Michael was gazing up at him with heavily
lidded eyes now, any trace of self-consciousness gone under the weight of his
lust and desperation. Calum’s hands slipped under Michael’s t-shirt, tracing
the warm skin of his soft tummy before he reached the younger boy’s sensitive
nipples.
Calum pushed the younger boy's t-shirt up carefully to see what he was doing
and Michael’s breath tore out of him in a ragged gasp when Calum stroked the
younger boy's nipples, pinching them lightly until Michael was writhing; until
his hips were bucking up; until the leaking head of his cock was pushing
against the waistband of his trousers as Calum rocked down slowly against him.
God, Michael looked so good like this. Calum could watch him all night.
He ducked his head to suck lightly on one of Michael’s nipples and the golden-
haired boy made a little choking noise when the dark-haired man's tongue washed
over it, his cock throbbing where it lay hotly against his soft stomach.
“Cal, your mouth,” Michael gasped out and Calum felt faintly smug now as he
trailed kisses down his boyfriend’s ribs. Presumably it must have tickled
because Michael let out a breathless giggle that made Calum smile without
meaning to.
Michael’s shaking hand found its way into Calum’s hair and the dark-haired man
smiled encouragingly when Michael kicked his way free of the blanket clumsily,
almost knocking the dark-haired man off the sofa in the process. Calum grinned
as he scattered kisses across his boyfriend’s chest again and Michael was still
giggling, all soft and cuddly and needy, and Calum knew he was going to be
okay.
“Go on,” Michael breathed hopefully, his pupils blown dark although he was
still smiling wide. Calum ducked his head to trail kisses lightly over the
younger boy’s soft tummy but Michael’s giggles cut off abruptly and Calum
looked up to find that Michael’s face had flushed crimson instead, like he was
embarrassed.
“Sorry, kitten,” Calum mumbled because, if Michael was blushing this furiously,
maybe he’d been too shy to tell Calum if he was uncomfortable. Calum tried to
move back a safe distance but Michael’s hand was trembling when he reached out
to grab Calum’s tattooed wrist.
"Don't -" Michael's voice was thick with something and he swallowed hard,
trying again. "Please don't stop."
Calum took in Michael’s kiss-bitten lips and the way his chest was heaving and…
god, he was obviously painfully hard now and Calum probably hadn’t been helping
by kissing all over his stomach except…
“You want me to blow you, kitten?” Calum’s voice was like melted chocolate to
Michael’s ears and he gave a little whimper as he squeezed his eyes tightly
shut, nodding furiously. Calum groaned, breath ghosting hot over where Michael
was leaking inside his trousers. “You want me to suck you off? Want your cock
in my mouth, baby boy?”
Michael’s answering moan was so strangled and desperate-sounding that Calum
finally stopped teasing him, simply crawling up Michael’s body to press a soft
kiss to his lips before he sank back down again to carefully ease the pyjama
trousers down the younger boy’s pale legs.
"Gonna make you feel so good, kitten," Calum whispered, glancing up through
pupils blown huge to see Michael worrying his bottom lip between his teeth as
his thighs fell open. His cock was lying hard and leaking on his tummy, flushed
a rosy pink and slightly curved as Calum reached out to run his finger lightly
down the length of it.
It twitched beneath his fingertip, a bead of pre-cum welling up at the tip, and
Michael's breath escaped him in a whine when Calum kissed it away gently. The
dark-haired man suppressed his smile with difficulty, pumping Michael's cock in
his fist as the younger boy let out a breathy groan that sent the heat coiling
tighter in Calum's stomach.
"Cal," Michael croaked and the older man smiled, holding his boyfriend's gaze
as he ducked his head to trace the underside of Michael's cock with his tongue.
The golden-haired boy shuddered beneath him, a soft cry tearing out of him when
Calum wrapped his lips around the tip, sucking gently.
Michael's milky thighs were trembling under the comforting weight of Calum's
palms and the older man's forearm was warm across Michael's hips when he moved
to hold the younger boy still as Michael arched his back, desperate and
unthinking.
Calum didn't blame him, not even when Michael's fingers tangled in his hair
when the older man finally started to take the golden-haired boy's cock into
his mouth. Michael couldn't help it. Calum knew no one had ever touched him
like this before and Calum had been just as bad during his first time too
probably. It didn't matter in the slightest.
Michael deserved everything he wanted and more, and Calum was going to give it
to him.
Calum ducked his head to suck at Michael's balls as his hand picked up where
his mouth had left off and the younger boy writhed, gasping out shaky moans as
Calum's tongue slid hot over Michael's swollen cock.
When Calum took it back into his mouth again, the younger boy cried out loudly
enough that Calum's cock began to leak in his boxers. Michael's hands were
gentle now as they softly petted Calum's hair and the older man couldn't quite
keep from grinding his cock down against the sofa cushions, desperate for
friction as he slowly but surely took Michael's cock into his throat.
The muscles clenched around it thickly and the little choking sound that tore
out of Calum only made Michael moan louder, the emerald of his eyes almost
hidden from sight as he watched Calum going down on him almost painfully
slowly.
Michael's chest was rising and falling rapidly, the fingers of his free hand
twisting in the blankets as he cried out, sobbing brokenly at the pleasure
boiling inside him. The golden-haired boy was panting as a teary-eyed Calum
worked to relax his throat around him and Michael moaned high in his throat
when Calum finally forced him down, practically drowning in pleasure now.
Calum rolled Michael's balls gently in his palm and the younger boy threw his
head back, completely overwhelmed as the tears started to leak down his face.
Calum's fingertip brushed Michael's hole by mistake - soft and pink and
delicate - and, although the younger boy's eyes widened in shock as he grinded
down desperately, Calum didn't think it was a good idea to go any further than
this right now. Not today.
Not yet.
Michael's breathing was heavy and laboured now, and he was crying weakly with
how desperate he was. Calum glanced up at him as he drew back a little, just
focusing on the head, and his heart softened in his chest when he saw how
glazed Michael's lovely eyes were; how swollen his cherry-red lips were as his
teeth sank into them; how needy his broken little cry of Calum's name sounded
when it tore out of him without his permission.
"I've got you, kitten," Calum murmured as he wrapped his fingers around
Michael's cock, jerking it in his fist as Calum took the tip back into his
mouth again, curling his tongue hot into the slit. All it took was Calum's
finger drifting down to stroke over Michael's hole again, just slightly
pressing in, and the younger boy fell apart with a broken sob.
Michael shuddered through his orgasm with tears leaking down his flushed face,
his breathing heavy and ragged, his soft tummy clenching under Calum's forearm
as the dark-haired man swallowed everything Michael gave him, sucking him
through it. Calum only drew away when Michael began to flinch at the
overstimulation and the golden-haired boy's eyes fluttered shut when his cock
slipped free to lie limply against his thigh.
Calum couldn't stand waiting anymore. He was so hard it hurt and the pre-cum
had soaked the front of his pyjamas when he finally slipped a hand into his own
pants, fucking into his fist with a desperation he hadn't felt in a long time.
It only took a few moments, as tightly coiled as he was, and Calum came with a
muffled groan, burying his face in the damp skin of Michael's neck as he
pressed kisses there.
Michael was still gasping and limp beneath him but his hands were soft as they
slipped beneath Calum's shirt, and he pressed a soft kiss to the older man's
shoulder as he rubbed his back soothingly.
'I love you,' Calum wanted to say, and didn't. Michael had had a tough enough
day as it was. He hardly needed Calum making things more confusing.
"That... that was..." Michael's voice trailed away but his cheeks were still
red and his expression was wonderstruck despite the tears still rolling
relentlessly down his cheeks. "Wow." Michael gave Calum a watery smile when the
older man finally raised his head, smiling his crinkly-eyed smile as he pressed
a soft kiss to his boyfriend's lips.
"I wanna do that to you one day," Michael whispered and Calum groaned, hiding
his smile once more in Michael's neck as the younger boy clung to him like a
koala, his cherry-red lips soft on Calum's cheek.
"How're you feeling, kitten?" the dark-haired man asked softly and Michael fell
quiet. Calum's expression became strained when he looked up in time to see the
tears beginning to roll anew down the younger boy's face and Calum pushed
himself clumsily into a sitting position, drawing Michael wordlessly into his
muscular arms.
"I'm sorry," Calum whispered as he cuddled his boyfriend tightly. Michael felt
small in his arms with his head tucked beneath the older man's chin and Calum's
throat thickened painfully. "I'm so sorry it didn't go the way you deserve. I'm
so sorry, Mikey."
Michael's pale hand was trembling when it rose to stroke Calum's cheek gently
but he kept it there, stretching up to press a gentle kiss to the older man's
full lips.
"Don't be sorry, Cal," Michael murmured, his whole body radiating exhaustion
and love. "I've got you. You're all I need."
His eyes fell shut when Calum pressed a kiss to his forehead but they flew open
in surprise when Calum rose easily, keeping Michael cradled to his chest. The
moon was shining high in the sky outside and Calum left their tray on the
coffee table as he carried Michael towards the stairs, scooping Karen's bag up
as they went. He could tidy up their drinks and the cookies next morning but,
right now, he had more important things to focus on.
Namely, the beautiful boy lying curled against his chest with pale arms wrapped
tightly around Calum's shoulders, holding on for dear life.
They cleaned their teeth in companionable silence, both sitting on the edge of
the bath tub with their thighs pressed warmly together as they brushed. Calum
felt sticky and kind of gross but he didn't want to have another shower; he was
too tired and Michael was too vulnerable right now. Calum didn't want to leave
him on his own for even one minute.
"You ready for bed, baby boy?" Calum asked hesitantly and Michael nodded,
sucking on his lower lip nervously as Calum stowed Michael's toothbrush beside
his own and struggled to ignore how domestic it felt because this was neither
the time nor the place.
"C'mon then, kitten," Calum murmured, entwining their fingers carefully as he
gently led Michael towards his bedroom.
Calum pulled the corner of the duvet back for Michael and smiled when the
younger boy immediately clambered in, pulling the duvet up to his chin and
looking around the grey room owlishly as Calum quickly drew the curtains,
flicking one of the lamps on and rummaging around for a clean pair of boxers to
wear.
Michael's pale, tear-wet face lit up with a faint smile when the older man
withdrew the koala toy from the plastic bag and Calum's chocolate brown eyes
were soft as he climbed between the cool sheets too. Michael cuddled the koala
toy tightly to his chest, burrowing closer under the duvet so that he could lie
snuggled safe in Calum's arms. The dark-haired man turned the light out and, as
the room was plunged into darkness, Michael's hand found Calum's.
"Thank you," the golden-haired boy breathed. "For always being there for me,
Cally." Michael wriggled closer, stretching up to press a soft kiss to Calum's
face. "You're lovely, you are." Michael was repeating Calum's words from the
week before and it made the older man's heart ache.
"So are you, Mikey," Calum whispered, tangling their legs together carefully
under the blankets as he cuddled Michael closer. "You get some sleep now,
kitten, okay? I'll make us pancakes tomorrow morning and then we can have a
nice shower, and you can get to know Mali and Tom a little better while I have
my football game, yeah?"
"Yeah," Michael breathed and Calum could feel the younger boy's smile pressed
against his neck. "Goodnight, Cal."
"Night, Mikey."
                                       *
Michael's love for Calum burnt in his chest like a forest fire and, as he fell
asleep that night with Calum's heartbeat pressed against his cheek, he thought
Calum might love him too.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** Kiss It Better *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi guys! I'm sorry this took a little while but I haven't had much
     motivation to write lately.
     I hope you'll enjoy this and if there's any mistakes then I'm sorry
     and I promise to fix them soon!
     Enjoy <3
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Michael went home two days later.
Calum worried about him and Karen said he didn’t have to if he wasn’t ready
but, despite how uncertain he felt, Michael missed home. He missed his bed and
his laptop, and his Xbox and his Playstation. He missed Teddy and his mum...
and he missed his dad… and that was possibly the part that hurt him most.
His parents were waiting in the hall when Michael came back home on Monday
morning and, for just a split second, Michael wished it wasn’t the school
holidays. At least that way he would have had an excuse to leave the house but…
no, even Michael wasn’t that desperate. He’d just lock himself in his room
instead and play video games until Calum came home from work or football
training.
“Hey,” Michael said awkwardly as he shut the door behind him. He was dressed in
one of Calum’s comforting-smelling jumpers over his usual ripped skinny jeans
and the bracelet the older man had made him felt safe around his wrist.
Karen stepped forwards to wrap her arms warmly around him, pressing a soft kiss
to Michael’s cheek as she cuddled him tightly.
“Hello, baby bear,” she murmured and Michael blinked back tears, giving her a
gentle squeeze before he stepped away hesitantly, his cheeks staining red.
Daryl was standing in the doorway to the living room, leaning heavily against
the frame with something like hopelessness in his eyes. Michael watched him
unblinkingly for several long moments before Teddy appeared to wind lovingly
around the golden-haired boy’s ankles.
“Is this going to be a problem?” Michael asked at last and Daryl looked
startled at having been addressed. His tired eyes widened before he seemed to
shake himself at his wife’s disapproving expression.
“Of course not,” Daryl said and Michael pressed his lips together into a flat
line, nodding slowly.
“Okay,” Michael said, shouldering his bag and starting for the stairs. “Right.
Fine.”
                                       *
Calum didn’t like not having Michael in the house.
He’d got so used to having the golden-haired boy there with him that it kind of
hurt to be separated from him now, especially when Calum knew his boyfriend
might not feel welcome back home.
Despite it having been several days now, Calum still couldn’t shake how wrecked
Michael had looked that evening when he staggered into Calum’s arms with tears
streaming down his face and the reality of that hurt because, to Calum at
least, it felt like looking at a past version of himself… the one who had
fallen into Luke’s arms and crumbled to pieces because, at the time at least,
he hadn’t felt like he had anything left.
Calum was so glad Michael had him.
He just wanted the younger boy to see how loved he was.
Ever since that first football game that Calum’s team had somehow managed to
win, Michael’s smile had began to grow on his face again. His emerald eyes had
sparkled and his lips had curved upwards like the sun breaking through the
clouds, and Calum was so in love.
Sometimes, when Michael looked at him with glittering eyes and gentle touches,
Calum thought the younger boy could see it.
Michael was friends with Mali and Tom now too, and seeing it made Calum so
happy. Michael already felt like family to him - not that he was planning on
admitting that to anyone any time soon - and watching his boyfriend interact
with his sister and best friends made Calum’s heart swell in his chest.
Michael was friends with all of them on Facebook now and Mali seemed to be
using this new means of communication for the sole purpose of sending Michael
kitten videos at every hour of the day, a fact which possibly made Calum even
happier than a delighted Michael.
The younger boy was seeing more of Luke, Ashton and Bryana now and, despite
Michael’s insistences that Luke was still annoying and not to be smiled at -
Michael failed at this regularly, much to Calum’s fond amusement - they seemed
to be growing on Michael too.
“Like a fungus,” Michael had said, causing Ashton to bat the younger boy around
the head with his napkin on one of their outings to a milkshake bar in town
that Bryana had just found.
Calum loved watching all of the people he cared about hanging out together. It
made him happier than he’d ever been and he could see it reflected back at him
in his boyfriend’s beautiful eyes.
Calum was doing his utmost to make Michael feel safe and special, and he was
pretty sure he’d been doing a good job. Maybe that was why letting him go this
morning had been so difficult.
They were going back to the milkshake bar tonight actually. Calum was picking
Michael up after dinner and he was going to drive him into town, and they were
going to meet up with Calum’s friends - with their friends now - and Calum was
so happy.
When seven o’clock rolled around that evening, the dark-haired man could barely
keep the smile off his face as he rang Michael’s doorbell. There was a tiny
part of him that was anxious at the prospect of possibly seeing Daryl after
everything that had come to light but most of Calum was just love and fierce
pride for his wonderful boyfriend.
Michael pulled the door open and Calum barely had time to glimpse a strangely
determined expression on the younger boy’s face before he was greeted with an
armful of cuddly teenager and soft lips pressing lightly against his own.
Calum stumbled backwards a step but he was smiling so wide his eyes crinkled as
he cuddled Michael tightly, dropping a kiss onto the younger boy’s head.
“I missed you,” Calum said and Michael smiled, looking surprisingly liberated
as the older man tangled their fingers together hesitantly. Calum could see
Daryl watching them with something like pain through the living room window but
Karen’s expression was soft enough for two people and the dark-haired man made
sure to smile at her as he led Michael back down the driveway.
“I missed you too,” the golden-haired boy said as Calum opened the car door for
him. It was a warm evening and Michael looked relieved when Calum switched the
engine on so they could open the windows. “I know it’s only been a day - well,
less than a day - but… I don’t know. I guess I just got so used to having you
that close that…”
“That it kind of sucked when you weren’t,” Calum finished for him and Michael’s
cheeks heated with blood as he smiled, nodding silently. Calum carded his
fingers lightly through the younger boy’s hair before he focused on backing
safely out of the driveway. “How was your day, Mikey? Were you… were you okay?”
Calum’s vision flickered and he remembered Michael gasping for breath with
tears streaking down his cheeks and, almost like the younger boy could tell, he
reached to squeeze his boyfriend’s knee reassuringly. It was too painful a
memory to fade easily but Calum was glad Michael seemed to be a lot happier
now.
“I’ve been okay,” Michael confirmed, deliberately nonchalant which made Calum’s
stomach churn with something like unease. “I went for a long walk earlier while
you were working. I was playing Pokemon Go.” Michael’s face suddenly lit up
inexplicably. “I have this bruise on my chin now, see? Because I walked into a
fence when I was hunting.”
“Hunting,” Calum teased but his chocolate brown eyes were sparkling when
Michael glanced up at him with an indulgent smile on his cherry-red lips.
“Silly boy. Does it hurt? Are you okay?”
“I might need you to kiss it better when we get there,” Michael said with a
serene smile on his lips as his emerald eyes glittered. “And, depending on how
you look at it, it wasn’t even really worth it.”
“How come?” Calum asked as he navigated the car safely onto the high street
that led into town. “Didn’t you catch anything exciting?”
Michael pulled an unimpressed face as he began to explain in a long-suffering
voice: “Well... I got a couple of Pidgeotto. A Caterpie and a Seel - which I
definitely didn’t name Seal Henry after the singer… not at all… - and then,
like, some Charmander and a Rattata… and Pidgeys. So many fucking Pidgeys.”
“Gotta catch ‘em all,” Calum said, utterly deadpan. “Just not the fucking
Pidgeys.”
Michael started giggling and Calum was glad for his stupid joke. Michael’s
laughter made Calum feel like maybe everything was going to be okay after all
and it made Calum feel more content than he could put into words.
Michael fell suddenly quiet though and, when Calum risked a glance over at the
traffic lights, he saw that the golden-haired boy’s expression had sobered as
he gazed back at Calum evenly.
“Home is… weird now,” Michael said quietly and Calum realised with a start that
the younger boy was answering his question from earlier. Michael let his head
fall to rest gently on Calum’s broad shoulder as they waited for the green
light to show. “Dad kept trying to talk to me but… I just can’t face him right
now, you know? And, like, mum wants me to give him a chance but… I just can’t
bring myself to.”
Calum wanted to pull Michael into a hug but he settled for a quick squeeze with
one arm before it was time to drive again. Michael looked like he needed a
cuddle.
“Things will get better,” Calum promised, reaching to stroke the younger boy’s
cheek gently with his fingertips before he focused on the junction they were
approaching. “The fact that he still wants to speak to you… well, that can only
be a positive, right? And… I guess he’ll realise how serious you are - how
serious we are - and… well, he’ll realise that he just has to accept that.”
Michael’s cheeks were red but he was smiling softly now as Calum drove into the
car park, maneuvering easily into a space nearby that overlooked the promenade
that edged the seafront.
“We’re that serious, huh?” Michael asked and, although Calum could tell the
younger boy was teasing, it still set his heart thumping too fast in his chest.
Their seatbelts being released sounded loud in the sudden quiet and Calum’s
dark curls were tousled from driving with the windows open. Michael flattened
them gently.
“Of course we are, baby boy,” Calum murmured, his voice thick as a lump
threatened to rise in his throat at how damn perfect Michael was to him. The
younger boy gazed up at him with soft green eyes and Calum’s heart squeezed
with something like fear. “How I feel about you now, kitten… it doesn’t get
more serious than that,” the dark-haired man admitted, his voice rough as he
pressed his lips together hard.
Michael looked dazed now and his small hand was trembling as he cupped Calum’s
cheek gently.
“And how do you feel?” Michael whispered. Calum closed his eyes, turning his
head to press a gentle kiss to the younger boy’s palm.
“I think you already know,” Calum breathed.
Michael’s expression was a heartbreaking mixture of sadness and happiness as
Calum leant to draw him into a hug. Michael’s green eyes grew damp and he
sniffed tearfully as he clung to his boyfriend tightly.
“I’m so lucky to have you,” Michael murmured, his voice thick with tears, and
Calum cuddled him tighter as he pressed a soft kiss to the warm skin of his
boyfriend’s neck.
“Not as lucky as I am to have you,” Calum countered.
Michael just smiled and drew him into a kiss.
                                       *
The milkshake bar - which was called Liquid Heaven, much to Michael’s amusement
- was located near the memorial gardens by the seafront. The gentle sound of
the waves crashing against the beach followed them as Michael and Calum
wandered along together, gazing out over the sunset as they headed towards
where their friends were waiting for them outside.
Ashton was currently standing on a low stone wall outside the bar, adjusting
the lens on his camera as he took a number of photos of the sunset. The skies
were streaked with purple and red, and Bryana’s hair was shining like burnished
gold as she danced forwards to draw the pair of them into a hug.
“Hello, sweethearts,” she said happily, her tanned arms warm around their
shoulders as she kissed their cheeks. “How have you both been?” There was
something slightly concerned in Bryana’s gaze as she brushed Michael’s cheek
gently and Calum smiled apologetically when his boyfriend shot him a curious
look. Calum wouldn’t feel bad for telling his best friends what had happened;
Michael needed all of the love and support he could get right now.
“We’ve been good,” Michael said reassuringly, smiling up at her as Calum’s
dimples creased his cheeks. Ashton looked up at the sound of their voices,
smiling cheerfully as he loped over to them. Calum went to greet him and Bryana
slipped her arm around Michael’s waist instead, laying her head gently against
his as she smiled cheerfully.
“Is that a new shirt, Mikey? I love the colour! It looks so pretty on you!”
Bryana grinned, giving his side a squeeze when Michael buried his bashful smile
in her shoulder. Calum appeared beside them, arms winding around his
boyfriend’s waist as he drew Michael gently back into his arms.
“You two having fun?” Calum asked, winking when he saw how red Michael’s cheeks
had gone. Bryana smiled serenely as Ashton slung his arm around her shoulders.
“Just telling Michael how pretty he is in his new shirt,” she said and Calum’s
smile softened as he dropped a kiss onto Michael’s cheek.
“Prettiest boy I ever saw,” the dark-haired man confirmed, making Ashton smile
at Michael as the younger boy’s heart tried to escape from the confines of his
chest. He was blushing now, little hands covering his pretty mouth as he smiled
helplessly at Calum.
“Where’s Luke gone?” Bryana asked and Ashton rolled his eyes fondly as he
pointed. The blond man was currently battling his way through a hedge nearby
with his eyes glued to his screen, apparently playing Pokemon Go like Michael
had been doing earlier in the day.
“Luke’s playing Pokemon?” Michael guessed and Ashton smirked, his expression
wry as he nodded confirmation.
“Hey, Michael,” Luke said without looking up. “There’s a fucking Dratini over
here! You wanna catch it instead?”
“Sure!” Michael exclaimed, trying not to look ecstatic as he eased his phone
out of his pocket and trotted across the grass eagerly behind the blond man.
Calum watched them go fondly before he and Bryana decided to secure a table
once Ashton had taken their orders into the milkshake bar. It was a warm enough
evening that they decided to stay outside and Calum felt happier than he had
done in a long time as he sat beside one of his best friends, basking in the
heady scent of roses wafting over from the gardens.
Michael and Luke were crowing excitedly now as they ran down a grassy slope
nearby, laughing together as they tried to catch whatever had appeared down the
hill, and Calum’s heart was swelling with love as he watched Michael throwing
his head back to giggle, emerald eyes crinkling shut and golden hair messy in
the breeze.
God, Calum’s love for Michael felt like a tangible thing now and maybe Bryana
could feel it too because she was gazing at him fondly when the dark-haired man
finally dragged his gaze away from his boyfriend.
“What?” Calum asked, aiming for defensive but just sounding vaguely self-
conscious instead. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Bryana rolled her eyes fondly, reaching across the cool surface of the table to
gently tangle their fingers together. Her brown eyes were soft and her blonde
hair cascaded around her tanned shoulders, and Calum realised with no surprise
at all that he adored her just as much as Mali.
“Have you told Mike you’re in love with him?” Bryana asked softly, and Calum’s
cheeks flamed as he looked between her and Michael with wide eyes.
“No! I… no.” Calum worried his bottom lip between his teeth, swallowing against
the nervousness he could feel in his stomach. “I almost did earlier but… no.”
Bryana made a small, sympathetic sound, giving Calum’s hand a reassuring
squeeze.
“You’ll find the right time soon, Cal,” the blonde woman said gently and he
managed a weak smile. “I’m happy for you though. I was worried you might not
feel that way...” Her voice trailed away delicately and Calum’s chocolate brown
eyes softened as he followed her gaze to look at Michael.
He was beaming now, his expression delighted as he waved his phone triumphantly
in the air. Luke was pretending to pout nearby but Michael’s joy proved
infectious and the blond man soon pulled Michael into a half-hug, messing the
younger boy’s hair up and dancing away with a bark of laughter when Michael
threw a handful of dried grass at him, only to have it blow straight back into
his face.
The fondness Calum felt then was almost painful.
“Just look at him, Bry,” Calum said softly, taking in Michael’s beautiful
smiling face and the light twinkling in his clever green eyes. “How could I not
fall in love with him?”
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought :) <3
***** Look Like A Princess *****
Chapter Notes
     Hey guys! I'm so sorry for the wait but I really hope you'll all
     enjoy this!
     There's probably only around 3 chapters and the epilogue left now but
     I really hope you'll all like this!
     Thanks for sticking around for so long <3
     Charlotte, the nose kisses were for you.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
With the sound of cheering still ringing in his ears, Calum ran off the pitch
surrounded by his teammates, sweaty and exhausted but so happy that his smile
made his face ache. The game had been one of their best yet and Calum couldn’t
be prouder as he headed for the showers. The score had been 6-0 to them and the
team had played amazingly well but Calum’s favourite moment by far had been
looking up to find Michael cheering excitedly in the stands.
Bryana had drawn a red heart on his cheek with her lipstick that perfectly
mirrored the colour of Calum’s football shirt and it made the dark-haired man’s
heart swell with love in his chest.
“I can’t believe we just keep winning,” Luke said with something like awe in
his voice as he bumped his elbow lightly into his best friend’s ribs. “You’re a
fucking awesome captain, Cal. We couldn’t do this without you.”
Luke’s shirt was draped over his shoulders and he was giving one of their
teammates the sort of hopeful look that Michael got sometimes when he was
wearing new clothes around Calum. (Basically, Luke was like an overgrown but
vaguely adorable puppy. Calum’s fondness may have shown on his face. Maybe.)
“Think your eyes are going to roll out of your head,” Calum said sweetly as
they entered the changing rooms with the rest of the team. “Ten bucks you won’t
ask Dales out for coffee.”
Luke’s blue eyes flashed but he fixed his sweetest smile on his face which did
absolutely nothing to prove his innocence.
“You’re on,” the blond man said but he was kind of smirking now as he raised
his voice. “It’s so sunny outside, Calum! I’m going to get so burnt if I walk
outside without a shirt on!” Brian looked up instantly and Calum bit the inside
of his mouth to keep from laughing as he searched through his bag for his
shower gel.
“It’s a good thing I have sun cream!” Luke continued and it was so obvious that
Calum couldn’t hold in his laughter now. Brian was watching Luke with heart
eyes and the blond man smiled like a cat who’d got the cream. “Brian, do you
want to help me reach my back?” Luke asked cheerfully and the striker laughed,
blushing as he slung an arm warmly around the taller man’s shoulders.
“Maybe if you buy me coffee afterwards, Hemmings.”
Luke beamed at him and, several moments later when he joined Calum in the
shower room, the younger man was almost dancing with excitement.
“You owe me ten bucks, Calum,” Luke said firmly. “That still counts.”
                                       *
“And Luke got Brian to ask him out?” Michael asked curiously. “Just like that?”
“Yep,” Calum confirmed, grinning when the golden-haired boy rolled his eyes
fondly. “Just like that.”
It was a good few hours after the match now and the pair of them were lying
tangled on the older man’s sofa, a warm blanket draped over them as the clock
ticked towards ten o’clock and a film played on the TV.
They’d been dating for a good three months now and Karen didn’t have a problem
with Michael sleeping over anymore. She was under no illusions about what they
may or may not be getting up to - Michael was a terrible liar and it pained him
- but Karen trusted Calum and Michael was glad of it.
“This film is so cute,” Michael said softly as the scene played out onscreen.
They were watching Blended and Michael was in love with it - probably because
it had so many animals in although Calum might have been doing his boyfriend an
injustice. “It’s honestly adorable, Cal. I’m actually offended by how cute it
is.”
“I’m not,” Calum said, leaning to kiss Michael on the nose. “You keep smiling
and trying to hide it under the blanket, kitten. It’s the cutest thing ever.”
“Shut up,” Michael said but he was going red now and his lips were curving up,
and Calum was so in love with him. Michael was lying curled up against his
chest now, snuggled there in Calum’s arms in the pyjamas he’d started leaving
at the older man’s house and… god, Calum never wanted him to leave.
The seventeen year old twisted in his arms, tucking his head away bashfully
under Calum’s chin as he cuddled closer to his boyfriend. Calum was shirtless
again - he was always shirtless - and Michael smiled sleepily as he pressed a
chaste kiss to the older man’s tattooed collarbone. Michael idly traced the
flower tattooed into the tanned skin of Calum’s bicep with his fingertips and
the dark-haired man followed the movement with his chocolate brown eyes,
dropping a kiss onto his boyfriend’s soft golden hair.
Michael was still stroking the flower tattoo and it reminded Calum suddenly of
their conversation that day in the kitchen, sitting with their feet brushing
gently under the table as they timidly talked about Michael wanting to feel
pretty.
Calum felt a small smile tugging at his full lips now and he glanced down,
taking in the way Michael was watching him cautiously from under the blanket.
“What?” Michael asked weakly and Calum smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his
boyfriend’s cheek.
“You remember that day we were talking in the kitchen, Mikey? About you liking
to feel pretty?” the dark-haired man asked softly and Michael blushed, tucking
his face out of sight. Calum’s expression softened as he raised the younger
boy’s chin gently and Michael worried his bottom lip with his teeth, watching
Calum with a mixture of embarrassment and longing.
“What about it?” Michael breathed and Calum stroked the younger boy’s cheek
gently with the pad of his thumb, letting it catch on the corner of Michael’s
lips. The golden-haired boy kissed it and Calum’s heart gave an unsteady little
jerk in his chest.
“Well… I’ve been thinking about it kind of a lot,” Calum began and Michael’s
cheeks were flaming now but he was smiling a little too, and Calum started to
get the feeling that maybe it had only been Daryl’s influence making Michael
feel guilty for feeling this way before.
Calum shook those thoughts away, kissing his boyfriend lightly on the forehead.
“I just wondered how you’d feel about… I don’t know… me maybe buying you
something pretty to wear?” Calum’s voice was hesitant at best but his slight
nervousness fell away when Michael’s face lit up as he nodded frantically. The
younger boy pushed himself up so excitedly that he overbalanced and, in his bid
to stop Michael from toppling onto the floor, Calum managed to fall off the
sofa too. They landed on the carpet with a thump and Michael started giggling
as soon as he could breathe again. Calum had twisted them luckily so he’d ended
up hitting the ground first and he smiled up at Michael easily, dimples
creasing his cheeks as he pulled a stupid face. Michael snorted with laughter,
tucking his face away into his boyfriend’s neck as he wrestled him into a hug.
“I think you gave me a concussion,” Calum lied, rubbing the back of his head
with one hand where he’d landed on the carpet. Michael stuck his tongue out,
apparently unable to think of a response. Then the younger boy’s face softened
and he kissed Calum chastely on the lips.
“You’re the best boyfriend ever, Cal,” Michael said quietly and the dark-haired
man sobered, taking in the undeniable love on Michael’s face with a swooping
feeling in his stomach.
“Not as great as you,” Calum said honestly before his face fell slightly. “And
besides, kitten, if I was that great then I’d be able to come to the shops with
you to pick stuff out…”
“Oh,” Michael said, frowning faintly. “Then how…?”
Calum’s lazy smile crept back across his face again and Michael leant down to
capture his boyfriend’s lips in a kiss, his small pale hands tilting Calum’s
head as he settled more comfortably over him. When the kiss ended naturally,
Michael snuggled closer again and Calum drew the younger boy into a gentle hug.
“It’ll all work out, kitten,” Calum promised as he carded his fingers lightly
through the younger boy’s hair, making him smile contentedly. “I have football
next Saturday but I didn’t want you to have to wait any longer than that.” When
Michael looked up curiously, Calum gave him a soft smile that spread slowly
across his face like melted caramel. “I know just the person who can help.”
“You’re being all mysterious,” Michael said accusingly but Calum just beamed at
him.
“Yep, I know,” he said cheerfully, glancing up towards the TV where the film
was still playing, largely ignored now. “You want to go to bed now, baby boy?”
Calum suggested and Michael smiled, teeth sinking into his cherry-red bottom
lip as he nodded slowly, fingers entwining with Calum’s.
“Think I’d like that, Cal,” Michael said and, if the expression on the younger
boy’s face hadn’t given his intentions away, his free hand sliding down to
cover Calum’s hip would have done it. “Think I’d like that a lot.”
“You would, would you?” Calum asked teasingly but he grinned at the squeak
Michael let out when the dark-haired man pulled his boyfriend up into his arms.
“C’mon then, baby boy,” Calum said as he carried Michael towards the stairs.
“Bedtime.”
Michael hid his smile in Calum’s neck but, twenty minutes later when they were
sinking down onto the older man’s clean-smelling sheets, Michael was pressing
kisses there instead. His fingers tangled in Calum’s dark curls and he sighed
as his boyfriend deepened the kiss.
There was a soft rain falling outside and Michael was toasty warm in his
pyjamas now, and everything felt safer and sweeter with Calum holding him
close, cradling him like he was something precious.
Michael rolled closer to kiss him again, fingertips dipping into the older
man’s dimples as Calum failed to suppress his smile. His tongue tasted like
mint when he licked gently into Michael’s mouth, and the younger boy groaned
when he felt Calum’s hand inching down between the warm press of their bodies
to wrap around where their cocks were hard and leaking between them.
When the realisation that Michael was absolutely irrevocably in love with Calum
sank in then, he almost told him.
Almost.
                                       *
Saturday dawned bright and warm when Michael woke with his alarm, and his
insides were a tangle of nervousness and excitement as he quickly got dressed
into a loose sweatshirt over jeans. The pretty bracelet Calum had made for him
so many months before was still looped around his wrist even now and Michael
calmed a little when he caught sight of it.
He still wished Calum was coming with him today but they’d made other
arrangements and Michael was planning on showing his boyfriend what he’d
brought tomorrow - and besides, Michael was going to watch the football game
later too. He’d get to see Calum after that.
There was a low knock on his bedroom door and Michael glanced over
apprehensively before he berated himself for thinking that it would have been
Daryl.
“It’s open,” he called and Karen appeared with a smile on her face, taking in
the close-fitting purple t-shirt and black skinny jeans he was dressed in. His
golden hair was soft against his forehead and Calum’s hoodie was tied loosely
around his waist. She thought her son looked more like himself these days and
it made her happy. She just wished her husband felt the same… but Daryl was a
very private person and even Karen couldn’t tell what he was thinking now.
“Hey, mum,” Michael said and she smiled at him as she shut the door behind her,
cupping his cheek gently.
“Morning, baby bear,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure you’d seen the
time. You’re getting picked up soon, aren’t you?” Michael nodded distractedly
as he glanced towards the window, taking in the bright blue sky outside and
wondering once again what Calum had planned.
“Yeah, my ride should be here in like twenty minutes I think,” Michael said and
he looked so excited suddenly that Karen couldn’t resist teasing him fondly.
“And what exactly did you say Calum was buying you again?” she asked innocently
and Michael spluttered, blushing an impressive crimson.
“Just stuff,” he mumbled, looking incredibly shifty. Karen fought down her
smile with difficulty but, when Michael simply continued to flounder there -
flushed bright red beneath his floppy hair - Karen took pity on him.
“Pink is a good colour on you, Mikey,” she said softly, gentle eyes twinkling.
“Just so you know.”
Michael didn’t know how to respond to that so he just kissed her on the cheek
and smiled gratefully as he shuffled out of the room.
Michael’s mum was great. He was just too awkward to appreciate it sometimes.
                                       *
The doorbell rang ten minutes later, saving Michael from further embarrassment.
He was still curious about who Calum had asked to help out but the golden-
haired boy felt immediately stupid when he realised who it was.
“Morning, Mikey!” Bryana said happily once the front door was open, flinging
her tanned arms warmly around the younger boy’s shoulders and enveloping
Michael in a cloud of her sweet-smelling perfume. “Good morning, Mrs Clifford,”
Bryana added when she saw Karen hovering by the stairs with an indulgent smile
on her face. “I’ll buy Mikey lunch when we’re out, and we were planning to
watch Calum and Luke’s football game with Ashton afterwards so Mikey will be
out for a couple of hours - is that still okay?”
“That’s no problem at all, love,” Karen said, kissing Michael on the cheek and
nudging him out of the door although she pressed twenty dollars into his hand
with a wordless smile. “You make sure you have fun, Mikey, okay?” Karen
prompted gently. “Try not to stress so much. Everything will work out.”
Michael rested his head on her shoulder briefly and she smiled as she nudged
him lightly towards Bryana who wrapped an arm around his shoulders, ruffling
his hair messily and making the seventeen year old grin as he escaped her
clutches, throwing himself into the passenger seat.
“Eager?” Bryana asked teasingly and Michael went red.
“Hey, Bry,” he said with a bashful smile on his blushing face. “I’m guessing
Cal told you what we were shopping for then?”
“Uh huh,” Bryana agreed cheerfully as she started the car, maneuvering them out
onto the road and reaching across the gear shift to give Michael’s knee a
gentle squeeze. “Cal gave us his credit card. We’re going to make you look like
a princess, Mikey.”
                                       *
The shopping centre was bustling with people and Michael’s excitement only grew
as Bryana dragged him into shop after shop. He was probably having the most fun
he’d had all week; Bryana kept telling him how she found it adorable that he
liked looking cute and pretty, and Michael didn’t stop smiling for a very long
time.
Bryana hadn’t made him feel bad once and Michael was so, so happy.
She helped him pick out clothes - stuff subtle enough that he would be
comfortable wearing it out and about on a usual day, and the sort of things
that hopefully no one but Calum would ever see. She helped him choose nail
varnish and a few pieces of makeup too which Michael was excited to try out. He
just couldn’t get over how nice it felt not to be judged for feeling this way.
“Thank you for this,” Michael said softly and Bryana simply smiled warmly at
him, giving his small hand a gentle squeeze.
“Think nothing of it, Mikey,” she said and it seemed like she meant it. “People
shouldn’t make you feel bad about this at all. You’re just being you and that’s
beautiful.”
Michael ducked his head, his cheeks flushing red as he buried his smile in her
shoulder.
“You’re a really good friend,” he said quietly and she grinned at him, dark
eyes soft as she ran a hand through her long blonde hair.
“And you’re going to make me over-emotional in a shopping centre,” she
countered, rolling her eyes fondly. “So quit it. Why don’t you go in that shop
over there? You can pick out what you want and I’ll pay for it and you don’t
even have to acknowledge that they’re yours if you don’t want to… okay?”
Michael followed her finger and flushed hottest yet because… because he could
see lingerie and other pretty stuff he didn’t even know the names of and… and
god, he wanted it so much but what if it was too weird? What if Calum freaked
out or Michael freaked out or they both freaked out and they had to stop seeing
each other and then Michael had to live next door to Calum and see him all the
time but never talk to him ever again and - and -
“Mike,” Bryana said firmly, her hands settling on his shoulders as she let the
shopping bags rest on the ground beside them. “Take a breath for me, love,
okay? Stop overthinking everything. If Cal wasn’t into this then he totally
wouldn’t have sent me out with you with the sole instruction of ‘buy him every
single thing he wants because he’s beautiful and I just want him to be happy,’
okay?”
Michael’s cheeks were pink now but he managed a weak smile down at their feet.
“Calum didn’t say that,” Michael mumbled and Bryana rolled her eyes, poking him
lightly on the nose.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Mikey,” she said and, below the teasing, the sincerity
on her face blazed. “Now c’mon - you wanna go in there or not?” When Michael
bit his lip and nodded shyly, a smile lit up Bryana’s face. “That’s great,
Mikey,” she said encouragingly. “You know it’s okay, right? You don’t have to
worry. If you want it then you can get it. That’s the rule today.”
“I think you might be one of the nicest people in the world,” Michael said
honestly and Bryana’s laughter was like sunlight as it warmed him.
“I haven’t even bought you ice cream yet,” she said and Michael grinned as he
followed her into the lingerie shop.
They didn’t leave for a very long time.
                                       *
When they finally left the shopping centre after burgers and ice cream, they
met Ashton waiting by the car with his camera. He’d been out on the beach today
talking pictures for his portfolio and his honey-coloured curls were lightened
from long days spent out in the sun.
“Hey, guys,” Ashton said warmly as the pair of them approached, weighed down
with bags. “You have fun shopping?”
“So much fun,” Michael said happily and Bryana winked at him as they started to
stow the bags in the boot. “Are we gonna go watch Cal and Luke now?”
“Sure we are,” Ashton said kindly, leaning over with a tissue he’d produced
from his pocket to dab fondly at the corner of the golden-haired boy’s mouth.
“You’ve got ice cream on your face, Mikey.”
“I was seeing how long it took him to notice,” Bryana said.
“I take back what I said about you being nice,” Michael lied, trying hard not
to smile as his green eyes twinkled with happiness. “You suck, Bry.”
“She really does,” Ashton said with a stupid wink, making Michael choke out
surprised laughter.
Bryana smacked Ashton on the arm, trying hard not to smile.
“We better leave now if we’re going to make it in time,” she said, pretending
to glare at her boyfriend as she slid back into the driving seat. “Can’t leave
Cal and Lukey waiting.”
                                       *
They won the game again.
Michael didn’t know why it surprised him anymore because Calum was a brilliant
captain and the team were fantastic but the seventeen year old still cheered
himself hoarse. Bryana had drawn lipstick hearts on Michael’s cheeks again and
he was so excited as he watched the team running a victory lap around the
pitch.
Calum broke away from the rest of the team as they started towards the changing
rooms and Luke clapped his best friend on the shoulder as he watched him go.
Calum ran across the grass and Ashton helped Michael climb over the barrier
because he was too small to get over on his own, and then Calum was holding
Michael and spinning him around in a circle, and Michael was laughing
delightedly and scattering kisses all over his boyfriend’s face because: “You
won! You won again, Cal! You won!”
Calum’s chocolate brown eyes were sparkling as he set his boyfriend carefully
on his feet and the kiss he pressed to Michael’s nose made the younger boy
giggle. The hearts on Michael’s cheeks were smudged and Calum’s curls were
tousled in the warm breeze, and Michael’s heart felt lighter than it had done
in a very long time as he drew his boyfriend into a tight hug because it felt
like everything might finally be okay again.
“You wanna go make out in your car now, Cal?” Michael asked innocently and the
dark-haired man barked out a laugh, soft eyes crinkling as he pressed a gentle
kiss to his boyfriend’s neck.
“Thought you were never gonna ask, kitten.”
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you all so much for reading! :)
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** Wake Up Happy *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi guys! I'm so so so SO sorry it took me so long to update - believe
     it or not, I've been writing this one for about three weeks! But I
     finally did it! (And if there's tons of mistakes then I'll fix them
     later, I promise!)
     Enjoy! :D
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Michael had already nearly fallen in twice.
He was sitting perched precariously on the edge of the bath tub in his boxers
and an oversized grey t-shirt of Calum’s, and he was kind of regretting having
started this now. The razor kept falling into the lukewarm water because his
fingers were slippery with soap and shaving his legs had seemed a lot easier in
theory.
In Michael’s defence, he really didn’t have any past experience though. He
didn’t exactly have to shave his face yet since he still looked as
unfortunately baby-faced as he had done when he was much younger but his legs
hadn’t got that memo and it was something that had been bugging the seventeen
year old for a while now.
The result? Hopefully smooth legs to go with the new lingerie Bryana had
encouraged him to buy that day.
Michael chewed on his bottom lip worriedly as he drew the razor he’d stolen
from the cupboard across his thigh but it looked a lot easier (and not to
mention more effective) in the adverts on telly. Then again, that was probably
because the models on screen were already hairless which, now that Michael
thought about it, seemed a little pointless actually…
Michael was sighing heavily by the time he started on the other leg and he
simply hoped that Calum would appreciate this when Michael surprised him with
it. The golden-haired boy was humming almost cheerfully by the time he twisted
to shave his knee.
Michael slipped clumsily and a low groan escaped him when he saw blood welling
up on his pale skin. He felt stupid for having managed to cut himself but
mostly he just felt sick at the sight of it. He really, really hated blood.
The door handle rattled behind him and Michael swallowed a curse word when he
realised he hadn’t locked the door. He twisted to see who it was - hoping
desperately that it would be Karen since she was much less likely to judge him
- and Michael almost wasn’t even surprised when he overbalanced, falling down
rather painfully onto the bathmat as his dad stood framed in the doorway.
Michael’s heart sank like a stone in his chest when he saw his father’s blank
expression and a lump rose in his throat when Daryl simply stared at him for a
long, long moment before leaving. Michael’s cheeks flushed and he felt terrible
as he snatched some toilet roll from the holder, pressing a wad of it over the
cut.
A minute passed where Michael simply focused on trying not to cry, so ashamed
that Daryl had seen his only son like this when he already thought so poorly of
him. At least, that was what Michael assumed, at least until his dad reappeared
in the doorway with a plaster held between his fingers and a surprisingly
determined expression on his face.
Michael’s eyes welled with fresh tears when Daryl knelt down hesitantly beside
him and he watched wordlessly as his father gently stuck the plaster over the
little cut on Michael’s leg. The plaster was patterned with Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles - Karen always complained because it was the only pack they had
in the house and she often managed to nick herself cooking - and Michael
exchanged a timid, watery smile with Daryl when the plaster was in place.
His dad left without a word and Michael watched him go, uncertain what to think
as the lump in his throat refused to leave.
                                       *
His parents were watching About A Boy when Michael finally went downstairs
later that night. His legs felt smooth and alien under his pyjamas when he
moved, and he still didn’t feel totally calm. The little cut on his leg was
stinging beneath the plaster but Michael could barely feel it. He was too
caught up in the tiny smile that had cautiously touched his father’s lips in
the moments before Daryl had left.
Michael came to a hesitant stop in the doorway, bare feet warm on the carpet as
he padded into the room. His parents were sitting on the sofa and the film was
playing quietly on the screen, and his heart felt too big for his chest.
Neither of his parents were speaking but they were both watching their only son
now, looking at him with what could only be described as hope, and for once
Michael didn’t feel the urge to run.
He thought again of the plaster on his leg… of the gentle look in Daryl’s eyes
like he was pleading for forgiveness… and, with a heart that felt lighter than
it had done in a long time, Michael didn’t leave the room.
He didn’t sit on the sofa between his parents like he might have done once upon
a time but he sat down on the floor in front of it, crossing his legs beneath
him and marvelling at how clean shaving made them feel; how smooth and himself
he felt under his pyjamas.
Michael leant back wearily against the sofa and, after a moment, Karen’s hand
gripped his shoulder gently and Daryl’s fingers hesitantly carded through his
son’s hair, and Michael figured he could live with this.
It felt like enough.
                                       *
Calum woke up early on Sunday morning.
His body ached from the football game the day before but it was a good kind of
pain because it made him feel alive.
His navy blue duvet was rumpled as it pooled around his bare waist but the air
was warm and Calum felt content. Watery sunlight streaked across the grey
painted walls like water colour paint and his spare pillow smelt comfortingly
like fabric softener as Calum cuddled it to his chest, pretending it was
Michael because cradling his boyfriend was his favourite way to fall asleep
these days.
Calum reached for his phone from the bedside table and cleared the various
notifications away before he opened a new message to Michael, beginning to type
with a sleepy smile on his face.
‘Hey kitten :) I hope you wake up happy today. When you’re awake, let me know
if you want to have breakfast with me? I want to spend every minute I can with
you. You’re my favourite person in the world. X’
Calum might have been embarrassed of the message if his boyfriend hadn’t
answered almost immediately with a resounding yes and an adorable flood of
kissing emojis.
Calum dragged himself out of bed with a smile on his face, stumbling into the
shower and washing his dark curls under the hot spray before he wandered off to
find clothes. He felt a little better by the time he’d finished cleaning his
teeth but he almost fell down the stairs in anticipation when the doorbell rang
ten minutes later.
Michael was waiting for him on the front step, a shy smile tugging at his
cherry-red lips as he carded a hand nervously through his golden hair, leaving
it sticking up messily. Calum cupped his boyfriend’s cheeks gently, drawing him
unthinkingly into a soft kiss that Michael hummed contentedly into.
“I missed you,” Michael said and, even though it had only been one night since
they’d last seen each other, Calum thought he knew exactly what the younger boy
meant.
“I missed you too,” Calum said honestly but his face lit up when Michael beamed
at him. There was a trace of excitement burning in the younger boy’s eyes and
Calum felt faintly confused for a moment before he remembered what Michael had
spent the previous morning purchasing with their friend.
“Did you bring the things you brought with Bryana yesterday?” Calum asked
innocently and Michael’s cheeks flamed scarlet as he smiled down at their feet.
“Maybe,” Michael said but his grin was audible in his words and Calum smiled as
he looped his arm warmly around the younger boy’s waist, leading him into the
warm hallway. “Thank you for that by the way. That was… very, very nice of
you.”
“It’s the least I can do for someone as lovely as you,” Calum said with a
shrug, smiling fondly when Michael hopped around while he removed his trainers.
His coat was flung unceremoniously over the older man’s banister to reveal a
jumper hanging down to mid-thigh and Calum smiled when he saw the familiar
leather bracelet looped around his boyfriend’s wrist; he was glad Michael still
wore it even after all this time.
“What were you planning for breakfast?” the seventeen year old piped up
hopefully and he couldn’t hold his giggles in when he saw Calum look
momentarily stunned. Apparently his boyfriend hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“You suck,” Michael said fondly, rolling his emerald green eyes when Calum
stuck his tongue out at him. “You want pancakes, Cal? I can make us pancakes?”
“You’re the best ever,” Calum said seriously, his chocolate brown eyes
sparkling as he smiled his crinkly smile, leaning back in his chair with his
dimples creasing his cheeks. The unexpected beauty of him took Michael’s breath
away and the younger boy found it hard to tear his gaze away as he turned to
rummage in the fridge, searching for ingredients.
“Blueberry pancakes?” Michael suggested when he found a package in the fridge.
Calum beamed at him, his dark eyes twinkling teasingly.
“This just confirms it, kitten,” the dark-haired man said with a grin. “I
really will have to marry you now. You’re making me pancakes.”
Michael giggled at that but his eyes were wide as he started to pour the dry
ingredients into a bowl. There was no disagreement from him this time; only a
dull blush colouring his cheeks and his heart pounding in his chest as he
realised that those words - teasing or not - were actually incredible welcome.
Michael was smiling softly as he began to whisk the mixture together, a gentle
stunned twist to his lips as he heard Calum let out a tiny gasp behind him,
like he hadn’t quite meant to let the words slip out.
The knowledge that Calum really, truly cared about him made Michael feel so
relieved that he almost felt dizzy now and it was all he could do to focus on
not spilling milk all over the counter as he added it carefully with the eggs.
Calum’s words washed over Michael like sunlight sinking into his skin.
“I think I could live with that,” Michael said once he was sure his voice would
be steady. There was a moment of surprised silence before Calum made a small
contented humming noise, rising fluidly to plaster himself against the younger
boy’s back instead. Calum looped his muscular arms warmly around Michael and
pressed a soft kiss to the younger boy’s shoulder, and Michael leant back into
his boyfriend’s warmth with a happy smile on his face as he added the butter
and began to fold the blueberries into the mixture.
“You’re amazing,” Calum whispered, his full lips brushing Michael’s blushing
cheek as the younger boy smiled calmly, focusing on his task. “You’re the best
boyfriend in the world, kitten. You make me so happy.”
Michael tilted his head back to kiss Calum on the underside of the jaw and the
older man smiled at him with what could only be described as adoration, his
dark curls falling across his forehead as he kissed Michael on the nose.
“You’re cute,” Michael said in answer, because he was too flustered to filter
his sentences properly now. “I like your nose and your eyes and your laugh. I
like you, Cally. You’re my favourite human ever probably. You make me smile
when nothing else does.”
Calum’s eyes got all sparkly with tears and he mumbled his excuses, returning
to sit sniffling at the table while Michael started pouring the batter into a
frying pan, his cheeks flushed and his smile curving unconsciously across his
lips.
The love in the younger boy’s chest hurt to breathe past but Michael wouldn’t
have had it any other way.
When he looked at Calum’s beautiful eyes gazing back at him, he knew his
boyfriend felt the same way… and maybe - just maybe - Michael was almost ready
to tell him.
                                       *
The rest of the morning passed slowly and Calum’s feeling of contentment only
grew when the pair of them decided to watch a film upstairs. The dark-haired
man’s heart quickened in his chest as he led Michael upstairs and he could feel
his boyfriend’s pulse racing in his veins where Calum was holding the younger
boy’s wrist gently.
They slumped down onto the bed together and Calum let out a relaxed sigh when
Michael curled up against his chest, facing away from his boyfriend although he
was still pressing back into the older man’s warmth.
“What film do you want to watch?” Calum asked hesitantly, stroking Michael’s
tummy gently through the big cream coloured jumper the younger boy was wearing.
Michael shuddered almost unnoticeably as he snuggled closer.
“I lied,” the younger boy whispered, biting his bottom lip hard when he felt
Calum nosing the stretched-out neck of his jumper aside so that he could kiss
his boyfriend’s throat. “I don’t want to watch a film at all. I just want to
make out with you a lot. Do you think we could do that instead, Cal?”
Calum hid his smile in Michael’s neck when the younger boy turned in his arms,
snuggling closer.
“I think that would be amazing,” Calum said honestly but he was grinning now
and it was making butterflies erupt in Michael’s stomach as he let his cheek
fall to rest lightly against his boyfriend’s shoulder. Calum kissed his soft
golden hair and Michael fisted his small hands in the back of the older man’s
t-shirt, holding him closer.
Calum’s full lips were soft when they pressed lightly against his boyfriend’s
and Michael’s fingers rose to tangle in the older man’s dark curls. The younger
boy's warm lips parted and he hummed into the kiss, smiling faintly when the
older man sighed contentedly against him. Calum’s skin was soft under Michael’s
fingertips and the younger boy whined softly when the older man’s tongue
stroked hot against his own. It made goosebumps break out on the younger boy’s
skin and Michael squirmed, shuddering at the lust unfurling inside him as Calum
drew back with a shaky breath, gazing down at his boyfriend with undeniable
love burning in his eyes.
Calum’s dark curls were messy and his kiss-swollen lips tugged into a slight
smirk as he tilted his head to one side, watching Michael curiously as the
younger boy struggled to regain control of his breathing.
“So...” Calum said in a smooth voice like melted chocolate. “What new things
did you buy yesterday, kitten?”
Michael’s cheeks heated and he bit his bottom lip softly, shifting so that his
thigh nudged against where Calum was hard pressed against his hip. The older
man’s breath stuttered out of him in a broken gasp and a tiny smile curved
Michael’s lips as his fingers pressed into his boyfriend’s muscular shoulders.
“Well,” Michael said slowly, making his voice purposefully thoughtful like he
wasn’t achingly hard in his jeans. “This jumper is new.” He was speaking in
barely a whisper now, his voice rougher with lust. “So are these jeans.”
Michael bit back a moan as his eyes fluttered shut when Calum’s hands slipped
down to grip the younger boy’s arse firmly.
“So are what’s underneath them,” Michael breathed and Calum sucked his moan
into the younger boy’s throat, bruising the pale skin as Michael arched up
against him, a desperate whine clawing its way out into the warm air.
“Figured you might like them, Cal,” Michael murmured when he could breathe
again and Calum felt something hot shudder through him as he processed his
boyfriend’s words. The older man swallowed thickly as he struggled to calm
himself, hands rising so that he could smooth his palms soothingly over the
younger boy’s back beneath his jumper.
“You want to show me what you’re wearing under there, kitten?” Calum murmured
and Michael moaned softly, tucking his face away into Calum’s neck as he
pressed a hot kiss to the skin there.
“Yeah,” Michael gasped out, cheeks hot enough that he felt like he was about to
ignite now, lust and excitement burning through his body like wildfire. “But…
you gotta take your stuff off too, okay?”
Calum’s expression softened at the tiny trace of nervousness he could see
blossoming on Michael’s blushing face and he kissed the younger boy lightly on
the cheek, letting his forehead rest against Michael’s for a moment.
“Of course I will, Mikey,” Calum said reassuringly, stroking the younger boy’s
hair back gently from his forehead. “You’re safe, okay? It’s just us and… fuck,
you’re so beautiful. We’ll only ever do what you want, okay? I promise.”
“Yeah,” Michael murmured before hesitating as he bit his lip. “Thank you for
being you, Cal,” he said quietly, leaning up to kiss his boyfriend on the lips.
It was gentler now, softer. It made Calum’s heart swell in his chest as he
cupped Michael’s cheeks gently and the younger boy blushed, smiling up at Calum
before he pushed him back lightly.
“Clothes off?” Calum asked innocently and Michael bit back a smile with
difficulty, rolling his eyes in a failed attempt to hide his fondness.
“Clothes off,” Michael confirmed.
A soft giggle escaped him when Calum immediately struggled out of his t-shirt,
getting it caught around his head for a moment before he emerged with his curls
in utter disarray, and Michael briefly considered fixing them before he decided
that it was pointless; he was planning to mess them up soon enough anyway so
what was the point?
Michael wriggled out of his jeans easily enough and Calum’s soft groan when he
saw the thigh high socks the younger boy was wearing made a tiny smirk curve
Michael’s cherry-red lips. The thigh highs were white with frilly pink lace
edging them and Michael fiddled with the hem of his oversized jumper,
stretching the cream material down so that the pretty lace underwear he was
wearing were momentarily hidden.
Calum was watching Michael with dark eyes now, taking in his soft pale skin and
the way he was worrying his bottom lip between his teeth as he glanced up at
his boyfriend through long eyelashes. Calum reached out hesitantly, tanned hand
trembling the tiniest bit as he settled his palm on the bare skin of Michael’s
thigh, warm and reassuring.
“You want to leave your jumper on, kitten?” Calum asked softly, leaning
forwards to scatter kisses across the underside of the younger boy’s jaw when
Michael sank back down onto the pillows with a satisfied smile. Calum’s teeth
grazed lightly over his boyfriend’s throat and Michael whined when he felt the
older man sucking a bruise into his collarbone. Michael curled his fingers
through Calum’s dark hair, groaning as he began to harden in his underwear when
he felt his boyfriend’s mouth dragging hot over his throat. Michael pulled
Calum away gently, fighting to calm his breathing when the older man looked
down at him with a small smirk.
“I’m gonna take it off,” Michael said and Calum's expression became surprised.
The younger boy just shrugged bashfully, smiling shyly up at him without a
trace of indecision on his face. Michael knew Calum accepted him the way he was
- hell, Calum seemed to love his body - and Michael wanted to feel that way
too… and honestly, this seemed like a good way to start.
“I trust you,” Michael said with a shrug. “Also there’s something else I
haven’t shown you yet and this jumper is kind of getting in the way so…”
“Oh?” Calum tilted his head to one side curiously, his pupils blown now
although the chocolate brown was still twinkling with fondness. “Go ahead then,
baby boy.”
Michael was blushing as he slipped the jumper carefully over his head and he
looked away shyly when Calum’s jaw dropped. The older man reached for his
boyfriend slowly, pressing his lips together hard to keep his moan in as he
dragged his gaze away from the pretty lace underwear that was doing a pretty
terrible job of covering Michael up.
“Kitten?” Calum’s voice was rougher now and he was obviously turned on.
Michael’s cheeks flushed darker as Calum caught the younger boy’s hands gently
in one of his own before he could cover his tummy up. “Mikey?” Calum raised his
boyfriend’s chin gently with his finger and Michael kissed the tip, cherry-red
lips soft against Calum’s skin.
“Do I look stupid?” Michael whispered and the older man’s chocolate brown eyes
softened as he leant to kiss the worried expression from Michael’s face with a
soft groan.
“You look beautiful,” Calum promised and the sincerity blazed in his eyes. “I
mean it, kitten. You’re fucking hot.” Michael blushed again but he was smiling
this time and Calum grinned, dimples creasing his cheeks as his hand settled
gently on the younger boy’s thigh. Michael bit his lip again and Calum didn’t
realise why at first until he processed quite how soft the younger boy’s skin
felt because -
“You shaved?” Calum groaned, cupping the younger boy’s face in his hands
shakily and drawing him in for a warm kiss. “Fuck, Mikey, you’re incredible.”
Michael sank back onto the bed with a blissful smile on his face and Calum
followed him, settling down warm over his boyfriend as he pressed a hot kiss to
the underside of his boyfriend’s jaw.
“What do you want me to do, baby boy?” Calum murmured and Michael shivered as
he felt his boyfriend’s hot breath ghosting over the sensitive skin of his
throat. For a moment, his mind flashed back to that night on Calum’s sofa when
everything was melting away into pleasure as Calum’s fingertip stroked over him
and…
“Oh,” Michael breathed, his cheeks flaming now as he looked up at Calum with
dark eyes, his pupils blown. “I think I might know what I want,” he admitted
and the dark-haired man smiled encouragingly, his head tilted to the side
curiously as Michael leant closer.
“What is it, kitten?” Calum whispered and Michael’s cheeks burnt hotter as he
looked down, biting his bottom lip nervously.
“I… I want you to…” His voice trailed away nervously but he took Calum’s hand
gently in his own, playing with the older man’s fingers as he glanced up
through his eyelashes at his boyfriend. Calum looked puzzled for a moment but,
when Michael looked very deliberately down at them before looking up again, he
saw the colour rising in Calum’s cheeks as he dropped his head, a soft groan
escaping him.
“You want me to finger you, baby boy?” he murmured and Michael moaned, nodding
frantically as his pale arms wrapped warmly around Calum’s bare shoulders. The
dark-haired man grinned, carding Michael’s hair gently back from his forehead
as he took in how beautiful his boyfriend was.
“Please,” Michael whispered and Calum stroked his cheek gently, leaning
forwards to press a gentle kiss to his boyfriend’s shoulder before he sat up
again. Calum reached towards the drawer where he kept his lube but hesitated,
glancing back towards Michael with something cautious in his dark eyes. Michael
smiled faintly, fingers curling loosely around Calum’s tattooed wrist for a
moment.
“I really do want this,” Michael said softly, trying to pretend that his cheeks
weren’t flaming scarlet. “And anyway, it’s hardly like you’re deflowering me or
whatever stupid shit you’re thinking.” Michael grimaced, turning away to hide
his embarrassed smile in the pillow. “I tried stuff before you came along - you
know that, right? I just… wasn’t very good at it.”
Calum laughed softly but the sound was distinctly relieved and so fond that
Michael realised he didn’t feel embarrassed after all.
“Bet I can do a better job,” Calum said and the confidence in his tone had
Michael’s stomach doing excited little somersaults as he felt his underwear
clinging tightly to him as he grew harder. There were two points of colour high
in the younger boy’s cheeks now and Michael’s hips shifted of their own accord
as he searched blindly for friction.
“You think you’re that good?” Michael asked curiously, fighting to keep the
excitement out of his voice as his emerald eyes sparkled. Calum’s smile only
grew.
“There’s only one way to find out,” he said with a casual little shrug that
made Michael groan softly. “Better prove I’m not just lying to impress you,
right?”
Michael pressed his cherry-red lips together firmly, not trusting himself not
to moan at the smirk on Calum’s beautiful face. His dark curls were tumbling
across his forehead as he took the lube from the drawer and Michael’s heart
threatened to beat right out of his chest with excitement.
“Yeah,” the golden-haired boy whispered when he was sure his voice would be
steady. “Yeah, Cal. Show me what you’ve got then.”
Calum nudged Michael until he was settled more comfortably on the bed but the
younger boy’s eyes widened when his boyfriend carefully pushed a pillow under
his hips. Calum’s expression softened at the trust on Michael’s face and he
decided then that he was going to make this as special as he could.
He’d never loved someone the way he loved Michael before and Calum would do
everything in his power not to lose him.
“You wanna keep these on?” Calum asked, letting his fingertip stroke down the
hard line of Michael’s cock where it was leaking inside his underwear. The
younger boy shuddered, pressing his head back into the pillows as his hips
jerked a little at the contact.
“No,” Michael mumbled when Calum’s hands drifted to stroke his pale thighs
instead, his palms warm through the smooth material of the socks. “Don’t wanna
ruin them.”
“Good idea,” Calum said but he was still caressing the inside of Michael’s
thighs, his fingertips brushing just high enough that Michael could barely hold
in his whines anymore. “And you’ll still have these on anyway of course,” Calum
said, indicating the frilly pink lace edging the socks. “Those are more than
pretty enough.”
“Thank you,” Michael murmured but Calum ducked his head shyly, pressing a soft
kiss to his boyfriend’s lips before he helped him carefully ease the silky
underwear off without stretching it. Calum moaned when he looked up, taking in
Michael’s hard cock as it lay leaking against his tummy, flushed a pretty pink
that made Calum swallow audibly. He shook himself to clear his head and
Michael’s lips twitched into a fond smile although his eyes quickly grew dark
when Calum uncapped the lube, coating his finger with it. Michael’s toes were
curling with anticipation now and Calum saw the neediness in his eyes for what
it was.
“I’ve got you, Mikey,” he whispered and then words weren’t necessary anymore.
Michael’s lips fell open around a low groan when Calum’s lube-wet finger
stroked over his hole and his hands scrabbled frantically over the older man’s
broad shoulders when Calum pressed his fingertip in gently. Michael’s pupils
were blown in the moments before his eyes slid shut and Calum pressed his smile
into the sensitive skin of his boyfriend’s neck, his teeth scraping lightly
over the skin as Michael pressed his head back into the pillows.
“You okay, kitten?” Calum whispered, drawing his finger back carefully so that
he was circling the younger boy’s hole instead. Michael’s hips jerked and he
shuddered, his cock dribbling pre-cum as he fluttered at the featherlight
touch.
“Yes, Cally, please,” Michael said imploringly and the dark-haired man smiled
against his boyfriend’s soft hair, apparently relieved as his fingertip
returned to Michael’s hole, stroking teasingly over the delicate pink skin as
the younger boy’s breath rasped out of him in a desperate groan.
“Please,” Michael breathed and Calum leant down to kiss him as he pressed his
finger in again. The younger boy gasped raggedly as heat washed over him and
Calum couldn’t resist the tiny, smug little smile curving his lips as Michael
moaned.
Calum’s finger sank in deeper and the golden-haired boy’s cock throbbed against
his stomach when he felt Calum’s knuckles brushing his overheated skin. A soft
whine was building in his throat now and he felt the blush colouring his cheeks
when the dark-haired man started to fuck his finger slowly into Michael.
“Oh god, Cal!” The younger boy couldn’t keep his moans in anymore but his
boyfriend’s eyes were so soft that Michael let it comfort him as the heat in
his stomach coiled tighter. His cock was achingly hard and Calum’s finger was
fucking into him so good that Michael couldn’t get enough of it, rocking his
hips back desperately as he spread his legs further. These little whimpering
noises were escaping Michael with every thrust of the older man’s finger and he
was sure they made him sound stupid but Calum was staring at his boyfriend like
Michael was all he’d ever wanted.
When Calum curled his finger a little and brushed the younger boy’s prostate,
Michael began to fall apart. A broken sob tore out of him as pre-cum spurted
out over his soft tummy and the hot open-mouthed kisses he pressed to his
boyfriend’s tattooed collarbone made Calum rut subconsciously against his
boyfriend’s pale thigh, his cock leaking inside his boxers.
Calum’s fingertip was brushing Michael’s prostate with every thrust now and the
younger boy was sobbing into his neck at how good it felt. His moans became
choked when the dark-haired man wrapped his fingers gently around the younger
boy’s cock and Michael whined, taking in how leaking and flushed he looked in
Calum’s tanned fist as his eyes blurred with tears.
“You’re so beautiful, kitten,” Calum whispered, his chocolate brown eyes
crinkling as his dimples creased his cheeks. The golden-haired boy’s cherry-red
lips parted around a soft moan and Calum’s expression softened as he stroked
the pink lace circling Michael’s pale thighs. “So lovely, Mikey. You look like
a princess. My favourite boy in the world.”
Michael fell apart with a strangled whine, clenching rhythmically around the
older man’s finger as Calum slowly stroked him through it. The dark-haired man
kissed the tears away from Michael’s flaming cheeks as the younger boy groaned
at the cum spilling onto his tummy, his golden hair sticking to his forehead
as his chest heaved. Calum carefully withdrew his finger, not wanting to hurt
Michael if he was feeling oversensitive.
“Good?” Calum asked gently and Michael gave him a lazy smile as he stretched up
to kiss his boyfriend gratefully.
“So good,” Michael said and Calum hid his happy smile in the younger boy’s bare
shoulder as he pressed a soft kiss to the warm skin there.
“So you don’t think it was all just talk?” Calum asked innocently when he
raised his head and Michael huffed, shoving his boyfriend’s shoulder weakly as
the older man barked out a delighted laugh.
“Not even a little bit,” Michael admitted, fighting a smile. “Now would you
like me to do something about that?” he asked, green eyes flickering down to
where Calum was tenting in his boxers.
“Oh,” Calum breathed, looking taken by surprise which made Michael feel bad. He
hadn’t done very much to help his boyfriend get off before and he was
determined to change that today. “Only if you’re sure, kitten,” the dark-haired
man said after a moment but he was biting his lip now and his eyes were
twinkling like he knew what he did to his boyfriend.
“I’m sure,” Michael promised and Calum hummed happily as he slumped down onto
his back, arms wrapping warmly around his boyfriend’s waist as he tugged
Michael down on top of him. The younger boy giggled as he straddled Calum’s
knees, all hot bare skin that only served to make the older man harder, and
Michael bit his smiling bottom lip as he eased the older man’s jeans and dark
blue boxers down his tanned thighs.
“Gonna take care of you, Cal,” Michael whispered and Calum grinned at him,
darks curls falling across his forehead, tattoos decorating his warm skin. God,
Michael was so lucky to have him.
Calum’s cock was hot in Michael’s hand as he drew his fist up it clumsily and
the older man groaned, eyes fluttering shut as his hips rocked up into his
boyfriend’s fist. Michael shivered as he saw the goosebumps rising on Calum’s
skin, watched the lust saturating the older man’s expression as his cock leaked
over Michael’s fingers.
The younger boy’s movements were fumbling at best but Calum had never cared
about anything less. All he could focus on was the endearing concentration on
Michael’s face as his fingers rolled teasingly over the head of Calum’s cock.
The dark-haired man moaned when he felt Michael’s free hand trailing over his
warm skin. Calum’s cock was throbbing now and he might have been embarrassed at
how quickly he was falling apart if he hadn’t noticed that Michael was getting
hard again. The younger boy’s fingertips brushed teasingly over his nipples and
Calum’s surprised moan caught in his throat when the younger boy leant closer
to suck a kiss into his neck.
“Kitten,” Calum moaned, muscles clenching under Michael’s heavy gaze as his
breath started to tear out of him in pants. “Baby boy, fuck.” Calum squeezed
his eyes shut, his eyelashes fanning out on his cheeks as he choked out a
whimper into the pillow. “Baby, please.”
Michael tightened his grip, letting his thumb catch in the slit as Calum arched
his back, cum spilling hot over Michael’s fingers which only made the younger
boy harder. Michael hid his triumphant smile as the heat in his stomach began
to coil tighter, stretching to scatter soft kisses to the underside of the
older man’s jaw as Calum’s breathing slowly calmed.
His dark eyes fluttered open after a long moment and he smiled tiredly,
reaching up to brush Michael’s cheek gently with the pad of his thumb.
“Hey, Mikey,” Calum mumbled and Michael grinned, turning his head to kiss his
boyfriend’s palm with a gentle brush of his lips.
“Hey, Cal,” he said softly. “You wanna have a bath with me? Get cleaned up?”
Calum stretched out leisurely on the bed, a happy smile curving his lips as he
relaxed back onto the warm sheets.
“I’d like that,” he said but his gaze flickered down to where Michael’s cock
was hard once more and he tilted his head to one side, smirking slightly in a
way that made Michael get butterflies.
“Oh, to have the stamina of a teenager again,” the dark-haired man said
teasingly and Michael rolled his eyes, huffing out a laugh as he let his
forehead fall to rest against his boyfriend’s shoulder.
“Calum, you’re literally twenty years old,” Michael sniggered but his cheeks
were still stained red and Calum grinned as he sat up quickly, catching Michael
around the waist before the younger boy could fall backwards. Their tummies
pressed warmly together and Michael groaned.
“There’s cum all over me,” he said plaintively but Calum just grinned, dropping
a kiss onto the younger boy’s nose.
“As if that bothers you,” Calum said and Michael grinned, letting out an
excited squeak when the dark-haired man scooped him up into his arms as he got
to his feet. “Right, kitten. It’s bathtime.”
Calum deposited Michael on the edge of the bath while he began to run the water
and the younger boy smiled shyly, glancing down at himself and taking in how
flushed his half-hard cock was as he reached out to poke Calum lightly in the
thigh with his toes. The dark-haired man giggled and the sound made Michael’s
heart melt in his chest.
Calum climbed in and turned to give his boyfriend his arm, and Michael was
still all warm and relaxed when Calum helped him sink down into the hot water,
almost distracted from his arousal until he processed quite how muscular the
older man felt against him. Michael groaned, abruptly turned on again as the
dark-haired man’s fingertips danced across his soft tummy.
Calum trailed kisses over the younger boy’s pale shoulders and Michael whined
at how oversensitive he felt as his boyfriend's fingers wrapped firmly around
his cock. Michael was flinching at the contact but it felt so good that he
couldn’t even focus enough on holding himself out of the water. Calum’s well-
muscled arm wrapped warm around his chest and the golden-haired boy clung to
him, nails digging into the tattooed skin as his hips rocked forwards. Michael
was making sounds like he was crying now but he didn’t even care; Calum made
him feel too good.
“G-god, I think I love you,” Michael choked out, voice cracking as he came.
Calum pressed his lips together hard against the sudden lump rising in his
throat, his expression softening when the younger boy immediately dropped his
face into his hands in embarrassment.
“It’s okay, Mikey,” Calum murmured, his tone reassuring as he pressed a soft
kiss to the back of the younger boy’s neck. Michael’s emerald eyes were welling
with tears now and Calum cuddled him closer. “I’m pretty sure I love you too.”
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading! :)
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** It’s You *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi everyone! I'm sorry this took so long to update but I worked
     really hard on it and I hope you'll like it!
     Enjoy! :D
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The sky was lilac overhead as Calum ran through the early evening. He could
smell eucalyptus on the breeze; could hear the soft crashing of waves rolling
against the beach. The promenade was strung with little twinkling lights and
Calum knew Michael would have appreciated the beauty of it but Calum was too
caught up in his head to feel the same.
His parents had called him up again the night before when he’d been lying on
his sofa with Michael. He hadn’t wanted to answer the phone – actually, he’d
threatened to throw it right out of the living room window – but Michael just
looked at him with soft green eyes, cradling Calum’s feet in his lap as the
older man watched him hopelessly.
When Michael had quietly asked Calum to give them a chance, Calum had listened.
He’d felt positive about it at the time; calm and closer to happy because his
parents didn’t seem to hate him anymore. They were more accepting and,
abruptly, Calum remembered that day in the garden with his sister. She’d
insisted that they must still care about him and miss him to keep calling and,
finally, Calum realised she might be right.
He didn’t forgive them for making him feel so unwanted – privately, Calum
didn’t think maybe he ever would – but they could move past it. Calum didn’t
want to lose them forever.
Watching how Michael interacted with his mum – and how his dad was slowly
warming to the idea of them too – had made Calum feel more lonely than ever so
the prospect of being able to salvage some of their relationship was too
precious to just cast aside now out of stubbornness.
He’d called Luke once Michael had gone home and the younger man had come round
for some beers, and they’d sat together on the back porch beneath the stars and
discussed it at length. Luke thought it was a good thing and, slowly, Calum had
warmed to the idea.
If his boyfriend and his best friend thought he should give them a second
chance, Calum figured it was probably the right thing to do. Michael and Luke
made him a better man.
The decision still didn’t sit completely easily with Calum though; he still
felt uncertain and insecure about it, and he hated how much it had thrown him.
Getting in touch with his parents had made him feel young and it was an
unpleasant sensation.
Calum was anxious by the time he got home from his run but he busied himself
taking a shower and washing his hair, and he almost felt okay by the time he
padded into his room to find his pyjamas. His phone screen lit up with a text
message and Calum’s chocolate brown eyes crinkled when he saw who the text was
from. Mikey flashed up on screen with a little cat emoji beside it, and Calum
couldn’t help but smile when he read the text: ‘Hey Cally, can I stay over
tonight please? I miss your hugs (and your face (and you)). ^_^ xxx’
Calum laughed as he replied with a resounding yes and the sound took him by
surprise; he hadn’t realised how down he’d felt until the feeling was replaced
with happiness. Calum shook his head ruefully as he headed down the stairs,
reaching the front door just as Michael knocked on the other side. Calum pulled
it open and Michael jumped at how fast it had happened, and then the younger
boy smiled as Calum ducked his head shyly.
“Hello, you,” Michael said, hand rising to cup his boyfriend’s cheek gently.
Calum kissed his palm and Michael blushed faintly. “Are you okay?”
“Better for seeing you,” Calum said honestly.
Michael seemed to know that there had been something wrong before he even
walked into the house and his expression was soft beneath his golden hair. His
green eyes were knowing as he drew his boyfriend into a gentle hug and for the
first time Calum was struck with the knowledge that the younger boy was growing
up.
Calum couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it before.
“Let’s go inside, Mikey,” Calum said, dropping a soft kiss onto the younger
boy’s cute little nose. “It’s getting cold out here.”
                                       *
The evening passed quickly and, although Calum was doing his best to be
cheerful, Michael could see he was struggling. The younger boy got to his feet
and, when Calum looked up at him in confusion, Michael gave him a wry smile and
reached to tangle their fingers together.
“We’re going upstairs?” Calum asked hopefully and Michael rolled his eyes
fondly, his expression good-natured as he pulled Calum off the sofa.
“We are,” Michael confirmed. “I’m going to distract you.”
Calum made a small sound of confusion but Michael didn’t comment for now,
instead simply focusing on leading the older man towards his bedroom and trying
not to trip over his own feet on the way up the stairs as butterflies started
to flutter in his stomach.
Calum flopped down easily onto the bed, his t-shirt rising to reveal a strip of
tanned skin that Michael’s emerald green eyes took in greedily. Calum’s dark
hair was curlier than usual after his shower and he looked soft as he lay there
in the pillows, his expression curious as Michael crawled up onto the bed
beside him.
“How were you planning on distracting me?” Calum asked hesitantly and Michael’s
lips twitched into a nervous smile.
“I was hoping you’d teach me to blow you, Cal.”
Michael spoke as nonchalantly as he could and had the satisfaction of hearing
Calum splutter in surprise. The dark-haired man’s cheeks had flushed when
Michael finally risked looking up at him but Calum’s expression was undeniably
fond as he pulled Michael down into a gentle hug.
“Kitten, are you sure?” Calum asked in a hushed voice, his expression nothing
but loving as Michael watched him shyly. The younger boy gave him a small smile
as his arms looped warmly around the older man’s shoulders, cuddling him
tighter.
“Definitely,” Michael reassured him although he was fiddling with the hem of
his long-sleeved t-shirt nervously all the same. “It’s just… I haven’t ever
done it before so… so I’m worried it’ll be terrible for you.”
Calum looked at him with soft, soft eyes.
“It’s you, Mikey,” the older man said quietly, his dark eyes sparkling. “How
could it ever be terrible?”
Michael smiled despite himself, warm hands falling to settle on Calum’s tanned
thighs where his shorts were riding up a little bit. Calum tilted his head
curiously to the side when Michael seemed content to simply stare at his crotch
and he snorted faintly when the younger boy’s fingers curled cautiously into
the waistband of his boyfriend’s shorts.
“You sure you want to?” Calum asked softly but there was still a faint line of
tension in his shoulders and Michael knew then that the answer was yes. He just
wanted to make Calum feel okay again and he’d wanted to try this anyway; now
seemed as good a time as any.
“I do,” Michael said firmly. He stretched up to kiss Calum and the older man
hummed into it contentedly, his hips rocking up a little when Michael’s tongue
slid hot into his mouth. Michael’s teeth sank lightly into Calum’s bottom lip
and the older man groaned softly, already half-hard in his boxers.
Michael remembered when Calum had blown him for a moment; remembered the
yielding heat of his mouth and how incredible Calum’s tongue had felt sliding
over him. Michael moaned a tiny bit despite himself and Calum looked satisfied
as he slumped down more comfortably onto the duvet.
“Is it difficult?” Michael asked and his voice was smaller suddenly, almost
doubtful. Calum bit his lip worriedly, hesitating for a moment as he ordered
his thoughts.
“Not after practice – I mean, I kind of love it now – but… it can take a little
while to get used to,” Calum said honestly, reaching to stroke Michael’s cheek
gently as the wary expression on the younger boy’s face faded. “You might not
like it, Mikey. You don’t have to do it at all if you –”
Michael shushed him and Calum’s lips twitched faintly despite himself.
“I want to try,” the younger boy said honestly, taking in the lust saturating
his boyfriend’s face with something that looked a lot like love. “Just… tell me
what to do, okay? Keep talking to me, Cal.”
“I can do that,” Calum said breathlessly, his lovely eyes darkening now
although he was still smiling gently. Michael’s expression became heartened as
he reached to ease Calum’s shorts and boxers down, tossing them onto the carpet
once they were removed. Calum’s eyes crinkled with fondness and Michael ducked
his head shyly as his pale hand reached to stroke where Calum was hard against
his thigh. The older man’s breath caught in his throat and Michael’s plump
cherry-red lips curved into a smile.
He looked nervous but determined now and Calum knew then that this was going to
be okay.
“Tell me what to do,” Michael whispered, his breath ghosting hot over Calum’s
hard cock. The older man groaned low in his throat but, before he could do much
more than shudder as goosebumps broke out on his skin, Michael had already
moved to suck lightly on the head.
The heat of his mouth took Calum by surprise and it was all he could do to keep
his hips from jerking as his breath left him in an embarrassing gasp. Michael’s
golden hair was glinting in the dim light and Calum petted it gently beneath
his fingers as Michael bobbed his head a little, glancing up at Calum
pleadingly with his soft green eyes.
“You’re doing great,” Calum said reassuringly, his voice embarrassingly
breathless as his eyes fluttered shut for a moment when Michael’s tongue slid
hot over the slit. “So good, Mikey. Just –” Calum broke off with a low moan and
Michael’s eyes glittered with something that was almost pride. “Just use your
hand for what’s not in your mouth, okay? You don’t have to take all of it.”
Michael did what Calum said, curling his pale fingers carefully around the base
of the older man’s cock as he settled into a clumsy rhythm, inhaling shallowly
through his nose as he swirled his tongue over the head. Calum moaned louder,
and Michael’s expression was the perfect mixture of shock and smugness which
Calum probably found a little bit too endearing.
It quickly became apparent that Michael didn't need instructions anyway; he’d
figured it out on his own and he was damn good at it. Much better than Calum
had been anyway; he’d just choked and cried a little bit because he got
frustrated when he wasn’t great at something straight away. (He was fairly
certain this competitive, perfectionist streak was what made him such a
successful football captain.)
The younger boy’s cheeks were pink now and his eyes were starting to water as
he kept up the rhythm he’d set, bobbing his head and fisting the shaft firmly
in his pale fist. A little choking sound escaped Michael when he took too much
and Calum groaned, gasping out for him to take it slow but Michael didn’t care;
he loved making Calum fall apart like this. It was all he could think about.
Calum’s breath was coming in short gasps when Michael’s tongue began to toy
gently with the slit and he could barely keep still now, fighting to keep his
hips from thrusting because the last thing he wanted to do was hurt Michael.
His boyfriend was precious and Calum refused to do anything that might make him
uncomfortable.
Calum carded his fingers lightly through the younger boy’s golden hair and
Michael moaned, the vibrations making Calum’s eyes flutter shut as a whine was
torn out of him. The heat in his stomach coiled tighter than ever and his chest
was heaving with how great he felt now.
“Fuck, kitten, you feel so good,” Calum gasped out, panting raggedly when
Michael tightened his grip a little, pushing forwards to take more into his
mouth as he sucked harder. Calum couldn’t hold his moans in anymore.
He didn’t know why it felt so good; Calum had had better blow jobs before and
Michael certainly wasn’t a natural but… but maybe that made it more special
really. Maybe the trust and the love blazing in Michael’s beautiful eyes like
fire were what was slowly taking Calum to pieces like this. Maybe it was
Michael’s open, gorgeous face and his soft pale hand as it slipped to roll
Calum’s balls lightly in his palm, bringing the dark-haired man closer than
ever.
God, Calum loved him so much.
His stomach felt like it was on fire now and Calum was a whimpering mess,
tanned skin sticking to the sheets with sweat, dark curls falling onto the
clean-smelling pillows as his balls drew up tight to his body. A strangled moan
tore out of Calum when Michael’s tongue began to work around the head of his
cock again and Calum felt the impending orgasm rising inside him.
“Mikey, I… Fuck, kitten, I’m gonna come,” Calum gasped out, the disbelief clear
in his tone at how quickly he was falling apart. He still wanted to be
courteous though; wanted to tell Michael so he’d have time to get out of the
way before Calum fell apart spectacularly.
Michael drew back swiftly – just as Calum had hoped for – but he continued to
fist his boyfriend’s cock at a steady pace and the heat in Calum’s stomach
ignited.
Michael’s green eyes were darker than ever as Calum’s cum shot hot across his
tense stomach muscles and the younger boy couldn’t get over how beautiful Calum
looked as he fell apart like that, chocolate brown eyes slipping shut in bliss.
It slowly dawned on Michael that he felt a bit disgusting as he knelt there on
the bed, waiting for Calum to stir again. His chin was all sticky and gross,
and he was leaking in his underwear, painfully hard as Calum’s dark eyes
finally fluttered open.
The older man looked dazed but his smile was so fond that Michael forgot how
desperate and uncomfortable he felt, losing himself in Calum’s sparkling brown
eyes.
“You’re amazing,” Calum murmured, answering Michael’s unspoken question
breathlessly as the younger boy wiped his hand clean on Calum’s discarded
shorts. Michael smiled a little despite himself but Calum made a soft sound of
concern, pushing himself up shakily and pulling his t-shirt off before he used
it to clean Michael’s face for him gently. The younger boy ducked his head,
cheeks heating, and Calum pressed a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s swollen lips
in gratitude.
“Is your jaw okay?” Calum asked softly once his breathing had calmed. “It
doesn’t hurt too much?”
“It aches a little,” Michael said with a shrug but the vulnerability was fading
from his face now and Calum was glad. Michael was amazing and the older man
didn’t want him to forget that. “You seemed to like it though.”
“I did,” Calum said, dimples creasing his cheeks when Michael finally let his
usual sunny smile break over his face. He was hard beneath the soft denim
shorts he was wearing and Calum’s palm settled on his boyfriend’s pale thigh as
he stroked the smooth skin gently. “You want me to help you out, kitten?” he
murmured, dark eyes flickering down to the hard line of Michael’s cock before
they drifted away again. “I can think of something new you might like to try.”
Michael swallowed audibly but his pupils were blown now and Calum couldn’t
resist leaning in to kiss him again. Calum’s fingers tangled lightly in the
younger boy’s golden hair and Michael moaned when Calum’s tongue licked hot
over his own. Michael could feel himself leaking in his underwear now and he
was getting too hot in the soft long-sleeved t-shirt he was dressed in. Calum
helped him out of it carefully at the younger boy's urging, his dark eyes
crinkling when it left Michael's hair sticking up messily.
“What were you thinking?” Michael asked cautiously but his hands had already
fallen to undo his shorts and Calum grinned when Michael wriggled out of them
quickly. He was wearing blue silky underwear underneath - another item of
clothing purchased on the shopping trip with Bryana - and Calum’s eyes went
dark when he saw them.
“God, Mikey.” The older man’s hands slipped down to cover Michael’s arse and
the younger boy shifted, biting back a moan as his hard cock pressed against
Calum’s hip for a moment of frustrating friction. “Wanna make you come on my
tongue, baby boy.”
Heat washed over Michael and he whimpered before he could stop himself as he
gazed at Calum, his emerald eyes wide and almost glassy with how desperate he
was now.
“You mean you’re gonna...?” His voice trailed away but the lust in his eyes was
unmistakable as Calum wet his lips with a teasing, thoughtful expression on his
face.
“Rim you?” the older man murmured, smirking just a tiny bit when he heard the
whine building in Michael’s throat. “Yeah, kitten. If you want me to.”
“Cally,” Michael whimpered, his voice several octaves too high now. “I want you
to. I really want you to.”
“Let me do that for you,” Calum whispered, full lips catching Michael’s jaw in
a soft brushing kiss as the younger boy melted beneath him. “Let me make you
feel good, kitten.”
“Please,” Michael breathed, his eyes falling shut with contentment when Calum
smoothed his tanned hands comfortingly down the younger boy’s ribs. There was a
rosy flush spreading down Michael’s chest now and it drew Calum’s gaze, made
him lean forwards to lick slowly over the younger boy’s nipples, his tongue a
hot drag that made heat coil in Michael's stomach as he whined.
The blue silk was cool under Calum’s searching hands as he ran them slowly down
his boyfriend’s body, stroking the soft skin as Michael pressed up into the
contact. Calum’s thigh slipped between both of Michael’s to give him something
to rub against and the golden-haired boy moaned helplessly, eyes already wet
with tears as Calum pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the sensitive skin of
the younger boy’s neck.
“Roll over for me, kitten,” Calum murmured, moving aside to give Michael room.
The younger boy’s cheeks were flushed red now but he still managed a crooked
smile at that.
“Sounds like something you’d say to a puppy instead of a kitten,” he pointed
out. His voice was embarrassingly breathless but Calum looked so unbearably
fond as his chocolate brown eyes crinkled that Michael couldn’t regret his lame
joke.
He couldn’t regret anything that put a smile like that on Calum’s lovely face.
“Let’s take these off so we don’t spoil them,” the dark-haired man said
quietly, carefully easing the silky material down Michael’s shaking thighs as
he pressed a soft kiss to the curve of the younger boy’s arse. Michael
shuddered and Calum hid his smile in his boyfriend’s warm skin as he helped
Michael up onto all fours.
The younger boy was shaking a little bit and Calum leant over him carefully,
trailing kisses over his shoulders and down his back in a successful attempt to
get him to relax. Michael’s arms wobbled beneath him when Calum’s lips brushed
the base of his spine and the dark-haired man spread Michael’s pale cheeks
gently with his thumbs. He blew over the golden-haired boy's hole and Michael
clenched down, whining as his hips jerked back uselessly.
“Cally.” Michael sounded so needy as he whimpered into the crook of his elbow
that Calum finally took pity on him, leaning closer so that he could press a
soft kiss to Michael’s overheated skin, his lips dragging hot down to where
Michael needed him most.
The younger boy’s breath stuttered out of him and Calum fought down a smirk,
licking hot over the younger boy’s puckered hole before his tongue pushed past
the tight ring of muscles to fuck in and out languidly. A shrill whine tore out
of Michael and his face flamed scarlet as his arms gave way. He fell face-first
down into the pillow, biting his ridiculous-sounding moans into it. (Calum
didn’t think they were ridiculous at all; he thought they were hot and he could
rapidly feel himself getting turned on again.)
Calum’s hands were strong on Michael’s hips as he turned him over and the
younger boy groaned at the friction of the duvet dragging against his leaking
cock, too far gone to focus on anything but his burning need as his cheeks
stained red at the broken moans escaping him. Calum pushed a pillow under his
hips and pulled him carefully closer, spreading the younger boy’s trembling
legs so that he could press his tongue in deep again, making the younger boy
jerk away at the stimulation.
The sounds tearing out of Michael were strangled and desperate, and he was
crying now because it was too much; felt too good and Michael had never felt
like this before… not even the first time Calum blew him.
Michael’s shaking hands settled on Calum’s head and his fingers knotted in the
older man’s hair which was just what Calum had been hoping for. He loved it
when Michael pulled his hair and this time was no different; the pleasure-pain
made Calum groan loudly and it vibrated all the way through Michael, making him
cry out embarrassingly loudly as the tears leaked down his flushed cheeks
relentlessly.
“Idea,” Calum mumbled breathlessly as he drew back, pressing a hot kiss into
the crease of Michael’s trembling thigh as the older man reached to snag the
lube from the bedside table. He coated his finger with it and Michael whimpered
brokenly, legs falling open wider as Calum settled back down against him,
reaching to tease the younger boy’s soft hole with his fingertip.
Michael's cock throbbed against his stomach as pearly drops of pre-cum shot out
over his soft tummy. Calum pressed a warm kiss to the sensitive skin and
Michael shuddered, hips jerking almost violently as Calum’s finger sank deeper.
The dark-haired man was scattering kisses over Michael’s soft tummy now and the
younger boy almost wailed when Calum’s fingertip hit his prostate although
hopefully his boyfriend would be kind enough not to call him out on it.
Calum was grinning as he ducked his head to suck on Michael’s nipple again and
the golden-haired boy couldn’t stand this now; it was too much and Calum’s
smirk was doing things to the fire in Michael’s stomach as his muscles started
to flutter.
Calum kept his finger buried deep inside Michael, tapping it lightly against
his prostate for constant stimulation, and when Calum sucked a biting kiss into
the younger boy’s thigh, that was all it took to make Michael lose it.
He came untouched, hot ropes of cum splashing out onto his pale skin as he
squeezed his eyes tightly shut, sobbing brokenly as his body shuddered
violently through his orgasm. Calum withdrew his finger carefully, wiping his
hands on the sheets before he crawled up to slump down beside his boyfriend,
stroking his golden hair gently back from his sweaty forehead.
“Baby boy?” Calum’s voice was soft but Michael didn’t open his eyes, simply
making a soft murmuring noise as he stretched out in the sheets like a little
cat. Calum stroked his cheek gently and Michael shuddered, blinking his green
eyes open tiredly to give Calum a crooked grin, his expression so blissed out
and dopey that Calum couldn’t keep the fond smile from spreading across his
face.
“Hey, Cal,” Michael mumbled, eyes falling shut again although he was still
smiling. Calum couldn’t resist drawing the younger boy into a warm, reassuring
cuddle and Michael beamed when Calum pressed a soft kiss to his hair.
Michael felt high on his love for Calum but he struggled to focus for a moment,
opening his eyes to trace Calum’s face carefully. The dark-haired man looked a
lot calmer than he had done earlier; he didn’t look so upset anymore and
Michael was glad of that but, in his orgasm-drunk state, he wanted to make sure
Calum understood how special he was.
“It’s you, Cal,” Michael said, his words thick with weariness as Calum rubbed
his bare back soothingly, holding him warm in his arms against his bare chest.
Michael shivered, snuggling closer although his lips twitched when Calum made a
small noise of confusion.
“It’s you,” Michael repeated, rambling away unthinkingly as he struggled to put
into words how much Calum meant to him. “It’s been you for months now. From the
first moment I saw you, Cal. It’s you every minute, day or night. It’s you when
I’m eating or sleeping or studying or… or fucking showering. It’s always you.”
Calum’s dimples were creasing his cheeks as Michael lay curled up against his
chest but the tears were welling up in his chocolate brown eyes all the same.
“You’re everything to me, Cal. Everything,” Michael said earnestly, twisting in
the older man’s arms so that he could tuck his head safely beneath Calum’s
chin. “It’s you. It’s always been you… and I think it always will be. You, you,
you.” Michael pressed a warm kiss to the older man’s collarbone and Calum
hummed past the tears sliding down his cheeks.
“I’m not just saying it, Cal,” Michael whispered, his voice saturated with love
and exhaustion, and utter sincerity. “I mean it.”
“I know you do,” Calum choked out, eyelashes spiky with tears as his lips
brushed Michael’s cheekbone. “I know, Mikey. God, I really do love you.”
“I love you too,” the younger boy whispered, his voice slightly choked although
he’d never felt safer. Everything felt like it was falling into place now. “I
love you so, so much, Cal.”
Calum’s eyes were still damp but they were shining with light again. Michael
hid his smile in the older man’s shoulder, burying it there like it was
treasure to be found later, and Calum knew then that he could never lose him.
He hoped this never stopped.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     There's probably only 3 updates left now so I hope you guys liked
     this one! :)
     Please let me know what you thought <3
***** I Love Him *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi everyone!
     I'm so sorry this has taken me so long to update. I've not been in a
     good place mentally at the moment but I missed writing this story a
     lot and it cheered me up a little bit.
     It's really long and it took me almost all day to write it, and I'll
     correct any mistakes I may have missed later.
     I really hope you guys will like this and thank you so much for
     sticking around! <3
     Enjoy :)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
With hindsight, Michael figured maybe he should have realised his parents were
planning something.
Saturday morning had started normally enough. Michael crawled out of bed just a
little too late and stumbled into the shower. He spilt shower gel everywhere
and swore when he almost slipped over while clambering out, and then he picked
an outfit and failed to tame his messy golden hair.
However, when Michael sat down at the kitchen table with a bowl of coco pops,
he began to realise that something strange was going on.
Karen sat with him for a little while, nursing a mug of tea and watching him in
a distinctly shifty way which put him on edge, but Michael didn’t realise the
significance of this until they both heard Daryl descending the stairs and she
suddenly darted off to hide in the living room.
Michael watched her leave with a vaguely betrayed expression on his face.
Things with his dad might have improved since that awful night when Michael had
fled the house but the seventeen year old had still been doing his best to
avoid being left alone with Daryl. It felt too awkward and strained, and it
reminded Michael sorely of how much he missed the way their relationship had
been when he was younger.
In recent years, Daryl seemed to find it increasingly difficult to accept his
son and, despite some of his actions possibly proving the contrary in the last
month, Michael wasn’t sure about it and it made him distinctly uneasy.
“Traitor,” he muttered at his mum’s retreating back and she shot him an
apologetic smile over her shoulder. When she tripped in the doorway and slopped
her tea all over the floor, it felt like karma.
“Good morning, Mike,” Daryl said carefully when he appeared in the kitchen.
Michael nodded at him awkwardly, spooning his cereal up with renewed vigour in
an effort to finish his food before his dad sat down.
Naturally, Michael’s plan didn’t work. He managed to inhale some milk in his
bid for freedom and the next thing he knew, he was spluttering so badly that
Daryl had to thump him on the back.
Michael’s cheeks flamed and he buried his head in his hands, more than a little
disheartened that he only ever seemed to be able to make himself look stupid in
front of his dad.
No wonder Daryl had grown so tired of him, even before Michael had come out and
almost tore their family apart in the process.
“Mike,” Daryl said quietly and Michael bit his bottom lip hard, raising his
head unhappily to hold his dad’s gaze. The golden-haired boy’s eyes widened in
surprise when he saw the imploring look on the older man’s face though; it
reminded Michael of how Daryl had behaved that night on the bathroom floor… how
his eyes had looked like he was pleading for forgiveness.
“Don’t choke to death on your cereal just because you don’t want to eat
breakfast with me,” Daryl said softly but his expression was downcast. “I… I
know these last few weeks have been tough and… and I know it was my fault.”
Michael looked up at his dad in confusion, his eyebrows pulling together as a
frown creased his face. In all of the time he’d known his father, he’d never
once heard him admit that he’d been at fault.
“Dad?” Michael’s voice was soft despite himself, his spoon forgotten in the
bowl. Daryl sat down heavily in the chair his wife had vacated, his palms
falling open in a beseeching gesture as he watched Michael hopefully.
“I regret the way I behaved so much,” Daryl said softly, too quiet for Karen to
hear in the other room. These words were only for Michael. “I… I’m so sorry,
Mikey. I didn’t understand then – or I was too stubborn to – but… but I can see
now. Being gay isn’t something you choose. It’s not something that’s wrong or…
or that needs to be fixed.”
Daryl shrugged awkwardly, his shoulders still just as broad and muscular as
they had been back when he excelled at boxing as a teenager. His hand fell to
rest hesitantly over his only son’s and Michael suddenly had to swallow past
the lump rising in his throat.
“I’m so sorry, Mikey,” Daryl whispered, his voice thick with what Michael
thought might have been unshed tears. His dad’s eyes glimmered with them and
Michael couldn’t speak. “The way I behaved was despicable and I know I can
never apologise enough for that but…” Daryl’s words failed him for a moment and
he shook his head to clear it, squaring his jaw like he was determined to
choose his words carefully… like he realised just how important this moment
was. “Can you ever forgive me, son?”
Michael thought it might have been the ‘son’ that did it. On the night in
question, Daryl had spat out that no son of his would be gay but… but this
didn’t even feel like the same person now. Daryl was watching him with
something like desperation as the tears started to roll and Michael’s mouth
fell open in shock.
“But I hate boxing,” he blurted out stupidly. His dad let out a breathless
laugh, his green eyes damp as he gave Michael a watery smile.
“I don’t care,” Daryl said and the sincerity blazed on his face. “I’ve never
cared about anything less.”
Michael kind of threw himself at his dad, arms flying around his shoulders as
Daryl drew him into a tight hug. A sob tore out of Michael and Daryl held him
closer, exhaling shakily when his son buried his head in his dad’s neck, hiding
his tears there. Daryl stroked Michael’s hair comfortingly.
“Mike?” Daryl murmured and the younger boy pulled back, his eyelashes spiky
with tears and a beautiful smile lighting up his face, like he was finally on
the way to feeling whole again.
The seventeen year old spoke three more words and his voice was soft as he
gripped his dad’s hand tightly.
“I forgive you,” Michael said.
                                       *
Calum came round to pick him up at six o’clock that evening.
Michael had been texting him for most of the day, first to tell him what his
dad had said and then to complain that he was bored – his parents were working
in the garden and Michael didn’t want to help them – and it ha kept Calum
amused while he did his grocery shopping and cleaned his bathroom which was
definitely a bonus.
Calum teased his boyfriend for a while but eventually he decided to be kind and
invited the younger boy to sleep over instead. This idea had been greeted with
lots of exclamation marks and kissing emojis so Calum felt it was safe to
assume that Michael was very happy with the idea.
It was already starting to get dark by the time Calum knocked on the Clifford’s
front door and he huddled up in his hoodie, wrapping his arms around himself as
he waited with anticipation for his boyfriend. Calum was therefore more than a
little surprised when Michael’s dad opened the door instead.
“Oh,” Calum mumbled, his cheeks flaming as he took a wary step back. “Sorry to
bother you. I wondered if Mike was home?” He wasn’t sure what to say – although
insinuating that Michael was coming over to sleep in his bed probably wasn’t a
good idea – and he sounded curter than he’d intended, probably because he was
so uneasy.
Daryl hung his head, shamefaced. He was clearly struggling with whatever he
wanted to say and Calum bit his lip, waiting in awkward silence as Daryl rubbed
the back of his neck nervously, finally meeting Calum’s gaze. Daryl was
behaving nothing like the man Calum had lived next door to for the last few
months and it shook him a lot; maybe Michael’s dad was sorrier than Calum had
realised.
“Mike’s just getting ready upstairs. He shouldn’t be too much longer though,”
Daryl said, jerking his thumb needlessly in the direction of Michael’s bedroom
before he met Calum’s dark gaze. His eyes were the exact same shade of emerald
green and Calum started in surprise; he’d never noticed that before.
“Calum, I…” Daryl's gaze dropped to the floor and he gripped the doorframe in a
white-knuckled grip. It took him a long time to look up again, like the
apology on the tip of his tongue was difficult to say. When Calum saw the
wounded pride in Daryl’s eyes, buried beneath the love and regret, he thought
he understood better than anyone.
That was how Calum looked when he thought about his parents.
It was how he looked when he realised he’d cut them off by refusing to ever let
them apologise for what they’d done to him.
“It’s okay,” Calum said quietly and the words took him by surprise but what
shook him even more was that he realised he meant them. Daryl looked at him in
shock and Calum shrugged uneasily. “You apologised to Michael, right? He
forgave you?”
Daryl’s cheeks heated but his expression softened as he nodded wordlessly.
Calum nodded, his arms falling to hang limply by his sides as he fought to
ignore the guilt he could still feel at the thought of his parents.
“If you and Mikey are good again then that’s all that matters to me,” Calum
said firmly. “I was there for Michael because I love him… not because I felt
like I had to fix whatever damage that night caused… and it’s nothing I haven’t
heard before. Not after my parents.” Calum inhaled shakily, fighting for a calm
he didn’t totally feel. “You don’t need to apologise to me. You needed to say
sorry to him and you have. Now I think maybe it’s better to try and leave the
past behind us, okay?”
Daryl’s expression became incredibly relieved but he still seemed to be
struggling with something. Maybe he was just as proud as Calum was. Maybe the
pair had more in common than they realised.
“I’m still sorry,” Daryl said and Calum could see in his tired eyes that he
meant the words. “I behaved horribly. I was… blinded by hate. It was
disgusting.”
“But it’s in the past,” Calum said, feeling strange for trying to make Daryl
feel better. He wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive Michael’s dad for the way he’d
made his son feel but Calum knew how deeply apologetic Daryl felt now. He
thought perhaps it would be enough eventually. “You’ve learnt. You’ve
apologised. There’s nothing else you can do. Just be there for him. Support
him. Love him.”
“I do,” Daryl said softly. “I will.”
“I’m glad,” Calum said quietly, glancing towards the stairs where he could
dimly hear Michael and his mum talking in the younger boy’s room as he got his
things ready. Daryl suddenly seemed to remember his manners and stepped aside,
sweeping his arm as he gestured for Calum to come in out of the cold. The
twenty year old stepped in gratefully, lingering in the hallway although an
idea suddenly sprang to mind.
“I should give you my number,” Calum said, easing his mobile out of his pocket
as he did so. “Mrs Clifford already has it but… y’know, maybe you should have
it too… in case Mike’s with me and you need to get hold of him or something.”
Calum went red suddenly, aware that he was rambling in his awkwardness but
unable to stop himself. “I mean, I know I only live next door and everything
but it might be a good idea and then – y’know, if you need it then… uh…”
“I understand, Calum,” Daryl said hurriedly but there was something soft in his
face that the dark-haired man had never seen before. “Thank you.”
Daryl seemed to appreciate the gesture as he passed his phone to Calum with a
new contact open and the dark-haired man pressed his lips together hard,
smiling a little despite himself. He thought he might quite like Daryl in the
end… and Calum was planning on sticking around to find out.
Calum wanted to be with Michael for the rest of his life.
“So,” Daryl said as the pair of them stood there quietly, listening with wry
amusement to Michael banging around upstairs as Karen laughed at whatever he’d
done. “You like boxing then?”
“Oh,” Calum said with mild surprise, a small smile lighting up his face. “Yeah,
I do. And football. Boxing is like a stress reliever for me but football’s
probably my favourite.”
Daryl leant a little closer, his expression animated now that they’d found
common ground.
“You play it, don’t you?” he asked eagerly. “I’m sure I saw a picture of one of
the local teams in the paper recently and I thought it was you there. It was,
wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Calum said, unable to ignore how surreal this felt although there was
something like pride colouring his face now as he recalled how brilliantly his
team had played so far. “I’m the team captain.”
Calum let out a nervous, self-deprecating laugh and Daryl allowed a broad smile
to spread over his face.
“That’s fantastic!” he said sincerely and he seemed to mean it. “How’s this
season going so far? Good?”
“Yeah, it’s –”
“Oh god, mum,” Michael said in a stage whisper on the stairs. “They’re talking
about sports together.”
Both Calum and Daryl looked up, wide smiles breaking over their faces, and the
relief Michael seemed to feel was tangible. Karen smiled as she stepped down
behind her son, her hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder.
“We should have realised they’d bond over that,” Karen said in a conspiratorial
whisper. Michael snorted with laughter and Calum exchanged a slightly wry smile
with Daryl. The dark-haired man's attention was quickly held when the younger
boy trotted down the stairs though and Calum’s dimples creased his cheeks when
Michael approached him, glancing slightly awkwardly towards his dad before he
seemed to shrug his worries away.
Michael wrapped his arms around Calum’s shoulders and stretched up on his
tiptoes, and Calum smiled gently when Michael brushed a chaste kiss over his
lips.
“Hey, Mikey,” Calum said and Michael’s ducked his head shyly, his cheeks
heating as he blushed.
“Hey, Cal. You ready to go now?” he asked. Calum smiled, chocolate brown eyes
twinkling as – over his boyfriend’s shoulder – he saw Karen reaching out to
take Daryl’s hand, a proud smile on her face.
“Definitely,” Calum replied. “Just waiting on you, Mikey.”
“Well, I’m ready now,” Michael replied, his green eyes glittering as he turned
to face his parents. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, okay? I’m only next door if
you need me… but I’m going to be doing important things like eating takeaway
pizza and watching films… so try not to need me, yeah?”
Michael looked proud of himself when Karen scoffed at him and Daryl rolled his
eyes. Both of them looked undeniably fond though and Calum finally let himself
relax as the knowledge that everything was going to be okay sunk in.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Daryl said, giving Michael’s shoulder a gentle
squeeze before he clapped Calum awkwardly on the arm. “You two take care of
yourselves.” Daryl seemed to have decided that bluster was the best way to deal
with his awkwardness but Calum didn’t mind and neither – judging by the wide
smile on his face – did Michael.
“Have fun tonight,” Karen added, blowing Michael a kiss when he beamed at her.
“Off you go. You’re letting all the cold out with that door open.”
Calum grinned at her as he wrapped an arm around Michael’s waist, taking his
boyfriend’s bag from him and leading the younger boy out into the early
evening. Calum was aware that Karen had saved them the awkwardness of making
stilted goodbyes as they left and he was grateful for that. She was an amazing
woman and he was so glad Michael had her.
The front door shut softly behind them and Michael relaxed as tension Calum
hadn’t even noticed bled out of him. The dark-haired man pulled him into a
half-cuddle as they stumbled down the driveway towards Calum’s house, narrowly
avoiding a sleeping Teddy curled up in the flower bed as they did so. Michael
let out a breathless giggle, tucking his face away into Calum’s neck for a
moment as he inhaled the familiar comforting scent.
“I love you, Cal,” Michael whispered and Calum smiled, dropping a kiss onto the
top of his boyfriend’s head.
“I love you too, baby boy,” Calum promised. “Always will.” Michael’s arm
wrapped around his waist too and he squeezed his boyfriend’s hip comfortingly.
“I’m glad everything worked out for you, Mikey.”
The golden-haired boy glanced up at him as he spoke, taking in the way his
boyfriend’s expression seemed to have fragmented as his voice shook the tiniest
bit. Calum’s expression was a chaotic mixture of sad and happy, and light and
dark, and Michael seemed to understand that Calum felt a bit up in the air at
the moment.
“Are you thinking about your parents?” he asked softly and Calum pressed his
lips together to keep himself from voicing his surprise.
“You know me too well,” Calum said and Michael shook his head in disagreement.
Calum held Michael closer to his side as they walked through the darkness
towards the older man’s house, and Michael felt so protected and loved that he
couldn’t resist snuggling closer.
“You think I know you too well?” the golden-haired boy repeated, raising an
eyebrow as Calum fumbled in his pockets for the door key. “There’s no such
thing. I want to keep learning you every day.” Michael’s green eyes sparkled in
the early evening moonlight and Calum was struck, for just a moment, at how
much Michael had grown during the time he’d known him. “I want to know you,
Cal.”
The words brought a lump to Calum’s throat although he couldn’t have explained
why.
“You know me better than anyone, kitten,” he said honestly, sniffing tearfully
as he got the door open and let Michael into the warm, setting his boyfriend’s
bag down by the stairs.
“That’s what I’m counting on,” Michael whispered, stretching up to kiss him
warmly in the dim light of the hallway. His arms eased comfortingly around
Calum’s shoulders and the dark-haired man smiled as relief trickled through
him, slowly at first and then in a flood.
He lifted Michael right off his feet, pulling him into the tightest cuddle ever
as the pair of them stumbled through the darkness into the living room like
some clumsy, two-headed monster. They slumped down onto the sofa together and
Michael grinned as Calum scattered chaste, purposefully wet kisses all over his
boyfriend’s face. Michael giggled, wrinkling his nose as he pushed a laughing
Calum away.
“I love you, you idiot,” Michael said, repeating himself as his eyes glittered
with laughter. His hair was a mess on the pillow and it probably wasn’t the
most flattering angle as Michael craned his head to look down at his boyfriend
but, god, the sight of him took Calum’s breath away all the same.
He thought Michael had maybe never looked more beautiful.
“I love you too, kitten,” Calum said and there was something in his chest that
made him feel like he would have fallen down if Michael hadn’t been holding him
so tightly. “I love you, I love you, I love you. Mikey, I’ll never stop.”
“Good,” Michael whispered, carding his fingers lightly through Calum’s dark
curls before he drew the older man back in for a cuddle again. “Neither will
I.”
Calum’s heart swelled with love but he decided he might have to change the
subject because tears felt imminent. Michael’s expression was vaguely knowing
as he wiped an errant tear away from Calum’s cheek. The dark-haired man smiled
bashfully, pressing a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s palm.
“You want to watch Toy Story, kitten?” Calum asked out of nowhere. Michael
grinned, settling down more comfortably on the sofa as Calum reached to snag
the TV remote before he relaxed against him.
“The third one,” Michael decided, putting one hand comfortably behind his head
as Calum watched him warmly, his dark eyes loving. “Then I’ll probably cry and
you’ll have to hug me better.”
“I’d hug you anyway. Do we really have to break me with that film in the
process?” Calum joked but he couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his
face when Michael simply shrugged stubbornly, fighting a smile although his
lips threatened to curve upwards anyway.
“But the third one is my favourite film, Cal,” Michael said in a deliberately
whiny voice. Calum rolled his eyes but he was already nodding and Michael
smirked triumphantly as his hands returned to stroking his boyfriend’s hair
again.
“I think I can manage that for you, Mikey,” Calum said. “Although you might
have to be the one doing the hugging. This film destroys me.”
“I think I can manage that,” Michael mimicked.
Then he smiled, his green eyes crinkling as he drew Calum into a gentle kiss
before repeating himself one more time that night.
“I love you more than anything in the world, Calum.”
                                       *
The pair of them saw their best friends for a barbecue the next day.
Calum had planned it originally because he was quite sure it would cheer
Michael up if things with Daryl were still difficult but Calum was glad that
wasn’t the case anymore. It would be a lot more fun without that hanging over
them and, more than anything, Calum just wanted to see his boyfriend happy.
He was so glad that Michael finally could be now, and he knew Luke, Ashton, and
Bryana agreed with him. They’d make the evening special for Michael and Calum
loved them so much for that; he couldn’t wait for them all to be together
again.
The pair of them wandered into town during the day, picking up something light
for lunch although Calum wouldn’t tell Michael why when the younger boy asked;
he simply told Michael that there was a surprise later and that he’d want to
have an appetite for it.
When the pair of them entered the supermarket at Calum’s urging, Michael began
to watch him suspiciously, taking note of everything Calum put in the basket
with a confused frown on his face.
“You’re buying burgers and hot dogs,” the golden-haired boy acknowledged. “And
napkins and paper plates. Calum, what are you planning?”
The dark-haired man smiled serenely as he reached to pick up a large bottle of
ketchup.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Calum said, making Michael
huff and roll his eyes as he tried not to smile.
It got worse when they got home. Calum continued to pretend he had no idea what
he was doing and Michael wanted to get irritated about it – he might have
succeeded too, since he didn’t exactly love surprises – but then Calum pushed
him down lightly onto the sofa and fingered Michael until he was crying with
need which went a good way to distracting him.
Michael lay there panting afterwards, his expression an endearing mixture of
weariness and satisfaction, at least until Calum dropped a kiss onto his lips
and hopped up off the sofa again, heading for the garden.
“Where are you going?” Michael asked bemusedly as he pushed himself shakily up
and grabbed a tissue from the coffee table, cleaning himself up the best he
could. Calum watched him fondly as he opened the back door, trotting out into
the warm sunshine.
“I’m just having some fresh air,” Calum lied as he crouched down to look at
something on the patio. Frowning, Michael clambered up and followed him,
wriggling back into his favourite silky blue underwear as he went. He’d swapped
his vest for an over-sized t-shirt of Calum’s earlier in the day and he looked
small as he huddled up there in the doorway. His pale shoulder was exposed
where the neck of the t-shirt was slipping and there was a bruise sucked into
his skin that would be impossible to hide.
Michael pointed at Calum accusingly.
“You’re sorting the barbecue out!” he realised with a ridiculous amount of
triumph. “Why are you being so secretive about wanting to have a barbecue?”
When Calum simply watched him with an admirably convincing air of confusion,
Michael faltered somewhere. “You… you are sorting the barbecue out… aren’t
you?”
“Am I?” Calum asked innocently as he lugged a bag of charcoal towards it from
where it had been waiting beside the door. “I didn’t realise.”
Michael stuck his tongue out but he was smiling a little despite himself, still
orgasm-drunk and cheerful despite how put-out he was that Calum hadn't remained
cuddling him.
“You declined my offer of a blow job which either means I suck – don’t laugh at
me, you dick; I didn’t mean it like that – or you’re in a rush,” Michael noted,
trying not to smile when Calum turned away to smother his laughter. “What are
you planning?”
When Calum simply shrugged infuriatingly, Michael rolled his eyes and tugged
the hem of the t-shirt down before he drifted closer to watch what his
boyfriend was doing.
“Do I need to put trousers on for this?” Michael guessed and Calum laughed
softly despite himself.
“That’s probably a good idea, kitten.”
Calum continued to be frustratingly vague for the next few hours and, despite
Michael threatening to break up with him if he didn’t tell him exactly what was
going on – Calum distracted him with another orgasm and, later, a chocolate
cookie – the older man wouldn’t tell him.
“It’s a surprise,” Calum kept saying. “Yes, I promise you’ll like it. No, I’m
not letting you go home to sulk. Yes, you’ll find out soon.”
Eventually, at around four o’clock when Calum disappeared out to check on the
barbecue while insisting that this wasn’t the case, the doorbell rang. Michael
looked towards it in surprise before he padded out into the garden, glancing
back over his shoulder warily as he did so.
“There’s someone at the door, Cal,” he said.
Calum looked up at him, chocolate brown eyes twinkling as he failed to hide a
smile.
“Is there?” he asked with feigned surprise. “You better go answer it then.”
“Calum, what have you done?” Michael asked apprehensively but he was smiling
weakly all the same as he walked down the hall to open the door. A huge smile
spread across his face when he saw who was waiting for him on the doorstep.
“Hello, Mikey,” Luke said cheerfully, thrusting a box of chocolates towards the
younger boy without ceremony. Behind him, Bryana gave a cheerful little wave
and Ashton mumbled something that sounded like: “Surprise!”
Michael snorted but the sound was decidedly fond as he stepped aside to let
them in.
“What are you three doing here?” he asked, smiling despite the confusion he
felt. “Calum never said anything about company –”
“Aw, did we interrupt your sex time?” Luke teased and Michael punched him
lightly on the shoulder, remembering – with just a hint of pride – the correct
way to form a fist.
“No, I haven’t missed out at all actually,” Michael said sweetly, barely even
blushing. “But thank you for your concern.”
“Gross,” Luke said but he was smiling all the same. “Where’s Cal? In the
garden?”
“Yep,” Michael replied but he couldn’t keep the loving smile from his face as
he thought about his boyfriend. “Probably incinerating the burgers right now.
You know how he is with cooking.”
“Oh god, I better go save them,” Ashton said, pushing the six pack of beers
he’d been carrying into Luke’s arms before he hurried off like some terrible
superhero. Luke watched Ashton go, smirking a little despite himself.
“Nerd,” he said but he followed his best friend anyway and Michael grinned as
he watched the pair of them hare off in their search for Calum. Bryana shut the
door behind her carefully before she looped her arm warmly through Michael’s,
leaning to kiss him on the cheek.
“How are you doing, love?” she asked and, beneath her cheerful tone, Michael
knew she meant it seriously. Maybe Calum hadn’t told them about what his dad
had said the day before.
“I’m good,” Michael said honestly, his voice gentle. “Really good. Dad
apologised yesterday. I think it’s all gonna be okay, Bry.”
“Mikey, I’m so happy for you!” Bryana was beaming as she pulled him into a hug
and Michael relaxed against her, tucking his face away for a moment as she
rubbed his back soothingly. He loved Bryana so much; she felt almost like a big
sister to him now and Michael was so glad he’d been lucky enough to meet her.
He was so glad he’d been lucky enough to meet any of them.
The pair of them wandered slowly out into the garden and Michael laughed at
what they found there: Calum and Ashton seemed to be wrestling for the right to
look after the barbecue, all while Luke stood there and actually bothered to
flip the burgers over.
“Our boyfriends are idiots,” Bryana said, purposefully loudly so that Ashton
would hear, and Michael nodded in agreement, giggling at the wounded look on
Calum and Ashton’s faces. Luke smiled smugly.
“I got all of the stuff ready and Mike didn’t even know it was happening,”
Calum told them as he clawed his way to his feet, darting away with a bark of
laughter when Ashton reached to tickle him. Michael grumbled good-naturedly at
Calum’s lame attempt to embarrass him before his face suddenly lit up.
“Well I put trousers on!” he said indignantly, making Luke snort with laughter.
“Where’s my prize?”
“This little party can be your prize,” Calum said, eyes twinkling. “Still going
to break up with me?”
Michael grinned, moving closer to catch Calum’s full lips in a soft kiss. The
quiet confidence he was exuding made Calum so happy; he loved how comfortable
his boyfriend seemed to feel now.
“Not a chance,” Michael said, his voice a whole lot fonder as he reached to
pick a blade of grass out of Calum’s dark hair. The older man smiled his
crinkly-eyed smile and Michael’s heart melted.
“Ashton, you can be designated burger chef,” Luke said abruptly, ruining the
moment with his usual smirk. “Cal can sort out the beers. Bryana can make
Michael some fancy drink that doesn’t have alcohol in because the little poppet
is still underage –” Michael scowled and Calum mumbled something about only
having coke, apple juice, and milk in the house. “– and I’m going to eat some
of the chocolates I very kindly brought along.”
“You’re so dumb, Hemmings,” Calum said but his voice was painfully fond as
Ashton headed towards the barbecue. Rolling her eyes, Bryana disappeared into
the house to find cans of coke for her and Michael. “Do you still have to leave
early later?”
“Yep,” Luke confirmed as he flopped down into the grass, stretching out with a
happy smile on his face. “I have a date with Brian tonight,” he added when he
saw Michael’s confusion. “We’re going to that Grandma’s Bar place and I’m going
to show him the delights of jaffles.”
“You and those fucking jaffles,” Calum said, shaking his head with mock
sadness. Michael giggled as he sat down nearby too, reaching to poke Luke in
the arm with his toes. It made the blond man jump since he’d let his eyes slide
shut against the late afternoon sunlight and Michael giggled triumphantly.
“I’m happy for you guys, you loser,” Michael said, making Luke smirk although
he kept his sky blue eyes shut. “Although how Brian can put up with your
constant ‘banter’ is beyond me.”
“I’ll have you know that I’m very funny,” Luke said, pretending to be offended.
“Brian thinks I’m wonderful. His parents like me; his dog likes me. Hell, even
his grandma likes me!”
“You’ve met Brian’s grandma?” Ashton piped up curiously from the barbecue, a
smile lighting up his face. “Must be getting serious, Lu.”
Bryana – who was emerging from the house with her and Michael’s drinks –
grinned when she heard those words. “You didn’t say anything too crude that
managed to offend her?” she asked with feigned surprise. “Well done, Lukey.
We’re all so proud of you!”
“Actually his grandma loved me,” Luke said, pouting just a little bit. “She’s
weird but she’s really funny. I like her. I complimented her pet budgies and
she wouldn’t leave me alone after that. She was like those two weird old ladies
in Fawlty Towers who fancied Basil. She kept pawing all over me; Brian had to
practically drag me away in the end.”
“Does anyone have a clue what he’s talking about?” Ashton asked teasingly and
Luke sighed, pretending like he wasn’t amused by their stupid conversation.
“Not one,” Michael commented.
“Me neither,” Calum lied, acting like he hadn’t watched all of the episodes
with the blond man back when they were younger. Luke grinned wolfishly as he
reached out to grab Calum’s ankle, dragging his oldest best friend down into a
bear hug.
“You’re all idiots,” Luke said. “I thought you loved me.”
“We do love you, you gigantic dork,” Calum laughed but the sincerity in his
voice was obvious. “Even Mikey does and you beat him at Guitar Hero last
weekend.”
“Don’t remind me,” Michael grumbled but his cherry-red lips curved up into a
big smile all the same.
“Ash,” Bryana said suddenly, her voice delicate like she was trying to break
bad news. “I think the burgers might be burning.”
Ashton kept up a colourful litany of curses as he dashed back to the barbecue
and Michael grinned, hopping up from the grass to go and sit with Bryana on the
patio as they nursed their drinks.
Behind them, Luke finally let Calum up but he caught the older man’s wrist
before Calum could leave. The dark-haired man watched him curiously and Luke
gave him a half-smile, pushing himself up into a sitting position as his
expression became marginally more serious.
“I have something to tell you,” Luke said quietly, keeping his voice soft so
the others wouldn’t overhear. Calum nodded slowly before he got to his feet,
extending a hand to help Luke up.
“You can help me slice some bread and get the salad ready,” Calum decided,
gesturing towards the kitchen. “C’mon.”
Luke followed Calum into the kitchen and the dark-haired man opened the fridge,
gathering the bag of lettuce leaves before he glanced over his shoulder to find
Luke biting his bottom lip nervously.
“What’s wrong, Lukey?” Calum asked softly. The blond man smiled.
“You’re not the same person who turned up at my house in tears that night,
Cal,” Luke said quietly and there was something fiercely proud in his voice.
“You’ve grown so much and… that’s why I’m gonna tell you this.”
“Um… okay,” Calum said uneasily, setting the bread down on the counter before
he turned to face the blond man properly. “What’s bothering you, buddy?”
“I… saw your parents the other day,” Luke said, speaking in a rush like maybe
that would make it easier to hear. “I bumped into them in the supermarket when
I was trying to buy these strawberry yoghurts I really like with these little
pieces of fruit in them and –”
“Luke,” Calum said, his voice faint, his eyes suspiciously shiny in the light,
looking almost as though he was trying not to cry. “Enough about the damn
yoghurts.”
“Sorry,” Luke mumbled breathlessly, his cheeks heating. Apparently he had a
tendency to ramble when he was nervous too. “It’s just… Cal, they miss you so
much and… you know I’d never be telling you this because I never, ever want to
hurt you but… I don’t know…” Luke shrugged uneasily, finally meeting Calum’s
gaze with worried blue eyes as his voice softened. “I think you’re hurting
anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Calum asked faintly. “I have Mikey and… and you guys… and
Mali and Tom. I’m not hurting. I’m fine.”
“You miss them though,” Luke said softly and Calum didn’t waste his breath
denying it. Luke was right; he knew him too well. “I can see it in your face
whenever anyone mentions them and… fuck, Cal, they miss you too. I spoke to
them for ages and they just want the chance to make things right. I’ve never
seen two people more sorry before. They’re desperate, Cal. They still love you
so much.”
Calum sniffed despite himself and Luke moved to draw him into a gentle hug,
patting the back of Calum’s neck gently when the smaller man tucked his face
out of sight. Luke shushed him gently, lips chastely brushing Calum’s hair just
like that awful night when his best friend had turned up in tears, homeless and
heartbroken.
“Thank you,” Calum said quietly, his voice rough with emotion as he finally
drew back. Luke’s eyes were soft as he took in how blotchy Calum’s face was but
he knew he hadn’t done the wrong thing when he saw the ghost of a smile on his
best friend’s face.
“I’m with you no matter what you decide to do,” Luke said softly, giving
Calum’s shoulder as comforting squeeze. “We all are, Cal. No matter what.”
“I know you are,” Calum said, ducking his head as he gave his best friend a
watery smile. “You take the bread and salad outside, okay? I’m gonna go wash my
face in the bathroom so I don’t look like I’ve just been crying hysterically
into your shoulder.”
“I wouldn’t say you were hysterical,” Luke teased gently but his smile was soft
as he disappeared back out into the garden. Calum climbed the stairs quickly
but, before he could wash the remnants of his tears away, he looked up and saw
himself in the mirror. Calum stared silently, taking in his reflection as he
lingered there in the dark room.
He looked older than he’d realised; wearier but tougher too maybe.
Calum thought he felt stronger than before.
He thought he might finally be brave enough to see his parents again.
Calum wanted that more than anything.
He heard a soft tapping as someone knocked on the doorframe and he turned
towards the sound, a damp smile curving his lips when he saw Michael lingering
in the open doorway. The younger boy’s emerald eyes were wide and soft, and his
hair shone silvery in the shadows as the sun sank beneath the horizon.
“Cal?” Michael murmured, the concern in his voice obvious as he took in the way
Calum’s eyelashes were still spiky with tears. Michael moved to cradle his
boyfriend’s soft face gently between his palms and Calum hung his head. A small
hurt sound escaped Michael when he stroked the pad of his thumb beneath one of
the older man’s chocolate brown eyes because Michael could feel the faintest
hint of tears there.
“Cally?” Michael asked softly, one hand winding gently through the dark-haired
man’s curls in a way Michael knew he loved. He brushed his lips gently over
Calum's forehead. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Quietly, Calum explained what Luke had told him; about how Calum was growing up
and how his parents desperately wanted to reunite with him. When Calum admitted
that he thought he might finally be strong enough to see them, Michael’s eyes
swam with tears and he pulled Calum into a tight hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” the golden-haired boy murmured, his voice tearful as he
pressed a hard kiss to Calum’s shoulder. “And I’ll be there with you, if you
want me to be. I promise. You don’t have to be alone.”
“Thank you,” Calum murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Michael’s forehead as he
stroked the younger boy’s cheekbone with his fingertips. “I love you more than
you know, kitten.”
Michael’s green eyes were sparkling with tears but he couldn’t keep the
happiness from his eyes.
It blazed there and Calum was so grateful he was allowed to see Michael like
this, when he was so raw and vulnerable and beautiful.
Michael made Calum feel so alive.
“Let’s go back downstairs,” the dark-haired man said softly, lacing his fingers
firmly with Michael’s and raising his boyfriend’s hand to brush a kiss over his
knuckles. “I don’t want you to miss the barbecue we’re holding in your honour.”
Michael smiled warmly at him but he didn’t allow himself to relax until they
emerged into the garden together and he realised that Calum’s content
expression was genuine. The dark-haired man seemed to have accepted things now
and Michael was so glad of it; Calum didn’t look like he was carrying a massive
weight anymore.
His relief and acceptance made him so buoyant that he looked like he was
floating, and Michael held his hand tightly as the pair of them sat down in
seats on the patio with their three best friends. There were a plate of burgers
and hot dogs on the table now, and Luke was currently stuffing his face with
bread and burger. Ashton was eating at a more sedate pace but Bryana didn’t
start on her own food until Calum and Michael were sitting down too, rolling
her dark eyes fondly at Ashton and Luke who apparently hadn’t been able to wait
for them.
Calum kept one arm wrapped warmly around Michael and the younger boy leant
against him comfortably as they ate, his head resting on Calum’s broad shoulder
as the dark-haired man focused on his food. Bryana was watching the pair of
them fondly and Luke kept smiling without meaning to, and Ashton couldn’t keep
the grin from spreading across his face as he lifted his ever-present camera to
take a picture of the pair of them together.
“Thank you,” Michael told Calum softly as he pushed his empty plate away,
looking up at his boyfriend with starry eyes. When Calum simply watched him
with mild confusion, Michael allowed a soft smile to spread across his face as
he cupped Calum’s warm cheek comfortingly in his palm. “For my surprise,”
Michael clarified. “Thank you. It’s very nice to have everyone back here
together again.”
“Oh,” Calum said, expression clearing as he smiled timidly. “It’s my pleasure.
There’s more to it than that though.” He was speaking earnestly, his eyes
sparkling with excitement, and Michael watched him with so much love on his
face that it hurt to look at. “I wanted this to be exactly like the first time
you met everyone, right? Only without Luke spewing bullshit about jaffles and
his beach body this time.”
“Don’t be fucking rude,” Luke mumbled but he was smiling anyway. Ashton wrapped
his arm around the tall blond man’s shoulders and Bryana reached to pinch his
cheek teasingly. Calum was still watching Michael with soft, solemn eyes but he
couldn’t keep the smile from his face.
“It’s like the night we first kissed,” he added, his voice too soft for the
others to overhear now. “It’s how we got to know each other… only without a
fence separating us this time. Don’t you see, Mikey? I wanted it to be
special.”
“It is special,” the younger boy said softly and his voice was thick now as he
allowed Calum to pull him into a tight hug, dropping a kiss onto his golden
hair. “It’s perfect, Cal. Thank you so much for being so thoughtful.”
“Well, I love you,” Calum murmured, shrugging as an easy smile curved his lips.
“I figured this was the least I could do.”
Michael stretched to kiss him and Calum sighed contentedly, a soft smile
touching his lips when the golden-haired boy let his head fall to rest in the
curve of his boyfriend’s neck.
“I love you too,” Michael said. “You make me feel like I belong.”
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought by leaving comments/kudos <3
     There's only going to be about 2 updates left now! I can't believe
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***** To The Moon *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi everyone!
     I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to upload - I lost all motivation
     for ages and then, when I actually wanted to write again, my laptop
     broke and I had to send it away to get fixed!
     (It's actually still broken but I might have sneakily written this at
     work... which is kind of weird now that I think about it but...
     whatever, you guys deserved an update.)
     If I've missed any mistakes then I'll fix them later.
     I hope you guys love this!
     Enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The barbecue had been over for hours now but Michael and Calum stayed sitting
together in the garden. The stars were beginning to flicker to life overhead
and Michael’s emerald eyes glittered when he tipped his head back to gaze up at
them but Calum couldn’t tear his eyes from his boyfriend; the younger boy was
too beautiful.
“Tonight was so lovely, Cal,” Michael said out of nowhere, his voice soft and
quiet beneath the evening sky as he tilted his head to rest against his
boyfriend’s shoulder. “Thank you so much. You’re so thoughtful.”
Calum ducked his head, a dull blush colouring his cheeks as he wrapped his arm
more securely around his boyfriend’s waist, cuddling him closer.
“It’s the least I could do,” Calum said, dimples dancing across his cheeks when
he felt Michael smiling into his neck. “You’re incredible. I want to keep
reminding you of how special you are.”
“I’m so lucky to have you,” Michael murmured but his smile was serene now as he
let his eyes fall shut in contentment. A cool breeze was beginning to pick up
and it stirred the grass, reminding Calum that he would need to cut it soon.
Beside him, Michael shivered.
“You’re cold?” Calum asked, his tone worried although an idea was beginning to
dawn on him. When Michael shrugged without looking too bothered, Calum came to
a decision. “Up you get then,” he said, helping Michael rise and dropping a
brief kiss onto the younger boy’s nose before he could stop himself. “I have an
idea.”
Michael followed Calum curiously, a smile curving his lips although his
confusion was evident as his boyfriend led him down the alleyway towards the
garage. Calum gave Michael’s hand a reassuring squeeze and the golden-haired
boy’s smile grew as he brushed a kiss onto the older man’s shoulder.
Michael felt so safe with Calum. He was so glad they had each other.
“Why’re we going in the garage?” Michael asked curiously when Calum fumbled
with the keys to get the sliding door open. It slid up with a clang and Calum
smiled his crinkly-eyed smile as he gestured for Michael to go on ahead of him.
“Are you going to make me punch something again? Because the nostalgia would be
cute and everything but I think I ate too much for any strenuous exercise.”
Calum pulled a purposefully suggestive expression upon hearing that and Michael
couldn’t stop himself from giggling at how ridiculous his boyfriend was.
“I would like it said now that there are always exceptions to that rule,” the
younger boy said with a wide grin. “Like… if you wanted to partake in certain
activities then, y’know, I could probably be persuaded…”
“Lame,” Calum said but he was smiling as he pressed a gentle kiss to his
boyfriend’s lips. “But noted all the same. Now you sit down on the sofa and
close your eyes, okay? I have a surprise for you.”
“Okay…” Michael said slowly but he was smiling as he flopped down onto the sofa
with a content expression on his face. He was still wearing Calum’s t-shirt
over his jeans and it fell down to mid-thigh as he folded his hands behind his
head. His happy face was pale in the darkness. “I’m waiting.”
“You’re sassy,” Calum corrected but his chocolate brown eyes were fond as he
began to rummage through one of the boxes of Christmas decorations being stored
nearby. Michael listened carefully as he lay there but he couldn’t work out
what Calum was doing; there was just the sound of sellotape being ripped from
cardboard and a mysterious chinking noise which would presumably make more
sense in a minute.
Calum made a small triumphant noise as the unmistakable sound of a plug being
pushed into a socket broke the quiet and Michael frowned despite himself. He
had absolutely no idea what was going on.
“It’s done, Mikey,” Calum suddenly declared, his tone slightly smug. “You can
open your eyes now.”
Michael did as he was told – it would probably never happen again so he hoped
Calum would appreciate it – and his heart clenched excitedly in his chest as he
took in the scene in front of him. Calum had strung fairy lights up around the
garage and they sparkled a soft white-gold in the darkness as Michael took them
in with something like wonder on his face. Calum’s phone was balanced on one of
the boxes nearby, the screen lit up as a song played although it was quiet
enough to be background noise. Michael strained to hear it for just a moment,
heard familiar female vocals as the words swam through the inky darkness
between them.
‘We could slow dance to rock music and kiss while we do it.’
“Lana Del Rey?” Michael guessed and Calum nodded confirmation.
“Freak,” he said, meaning the song title. Michael pretended to be offended and
Calum rolled his dark eyes fondly, drifting closer as the younger boy rose to
meet him. His arms wound gently around Calum’s waist and the dark-haired man
pressed a soft kiss to his boyfriend’s forehead.
“You big softie. Look at you being all romantic,” Michael teased but his eyes
were so loving as he took in the beautiful lights twinkling around them. “It’s
lovely, Cal. You’re lovely.”
“So are you.”
Michael smiled as he let his cheek rest gently against the older man’s chest.
Calum’s arms came to wrap warmly around him as they swayed slowly to the music.
“We’re dancing,” Michael realised, letting out a little huff of surprised
laughter. Calum’s face softened, his hand tightening on the younger boy’s elbow
when he stumbled slightly when his shoe caught on the rug. Calum rolled his
eyes fondly but he couldn’t resist giggling when Michael accidentally stepped
on his foot because it was just so them.
Michael stretched up to scatter kisses across Calum’s jaw and the older man
hummed contentedly when their noses brushed because Michael was so cute like
this; just like a kitten as his little fingers tangled gently in Calum’s curls,
and the older man’s hands settled warm and comfortable on Michael’s waist.
The pair of them slipped into a contented silence, just basking in the
closeness and how safe they felt wrapped in each other’s arms. Everything felt
perfect in that moment; real and ever-changing, and more precious than anything
in the world.
“I love you,” Michael whispered and Calum pressed his smile into Michael’s
hair. “I love you so completely.”
“I love you too,” Calum promised, his voice thick with suppressed emotion.
“With my whole heart,”
The words felt different tonight, more special maybe. They were so deeply in
love and Michael knew he would never tire of this. He’d worried once upon a
time that Calum would outgrow him; that he’d grow bored or restless; that maybe
he’d even stop loving him.
Gazing up into his face now though, Michael could see he’d been mistaken.
Their relationship wasn’t just a passing fling; a single snapshot in the
storybook that made up their lives. Michael thought this might be forever and
that didn’t scare him in the slightest; he needed Calum like he needed the sun.
“Mikey?” Calum whispered and the golden-haired boy looked up at him, frowning
faintly when he realised how blurry the older man looked; then he felt the
tears on his cheeks and realisation dawned on his face. “Why’re you crying?”
Calum asked in a hushed voice. Michael gave him a watery smile.
“‘Cause I love you so much it hurts sometimes,” he said, his voice catching a
little although his boyfriend was kind enough not to call him out on it. His
heart felt like it was swelling in his chest. “I’m never going to stop, Cal.
Not ever.”
Calum’s own eyes welled with tears as he heard that but his smile refused to
fade as he lifted Michael right off his feet into the warmest cuddle ever.
“I’m never going to stop either,” Calum promised, his dark curls messy where
Michael was tangling his fingers in them, his eyes sparkling in the fairy
lights. “I love you to the moon, Mikey.”
Michael cuddled him tighter as he slipped his hands beneath Calum’s shirt,
smoothing them over the warm skin of his boyfriend’s back comfortingly. Calum
set the younger boy back on his feet and ducked down to kiss Michael softly,
and the golden-haired boy whimpered and arched his back, full lips parting on a
soft gasp as Calum licked hot into his mouth.
It made Michael’s stomach fill with excited butterflies as one of Calum’s hands
slid down to the small of his back to hold him closer. Calum was warm pressed
up against him and Michael felt dizzy when they broke apart to breathe, smiling
up at Calum shamelessly as his head spun with the heat unfurling inside him.
“You should pull this sofa out into a bed so that we can snuggle,” Michael
said, stretching up on his tiptoes to press another brief kiss to his
boyfriend’s lips and, although Calum did as he was asked, he shot Michael a
slightly knowing look all the same.
“This is like when you lied about wanting to watch a film with me upstairs,
isn’t it?” Calum said knowingly as he secured the bed carefully, patting the
duvet flat as he did so. Michael giggled behind him and Calum smirked a little.
“Are you trying to seduce me again?”
“Don’t think I’ll have to do too much seducing,” Michael pointed out when his
eyes flickered down to where Calum was half-hard in his jeans. “Never knew you
were so easy, Cal. String up a few fairy lights and you’re anyone’s.”
Calum let out a surprised bark of laughter as he reached to hold Michael’s hips
securely, pulling the younger boy safely into his lap.
“Rude,” Calum whispered, pressing a kiss to Michael’s mouth and catching the
younger boy’s bottom lip lightly with his teeth. “I’m not anyone else’s,
kitten. Just yours.”
“I love hearing that so much,” Michael admitted breathlessly as the pair of
them sank down onto the sofa bed. It creaked a little under their combined
weight but the fairy lights overhead were glimmering beautifully and Michael
could still feel butterflies.
Their hips slotted together almost unconsciously and Michael whined when he
felt Calum’s cock pressing down against where his own was trapped in his jeans.
Michael’s legs were spread lazily on the duvet as Calum grinded down gently and
the younger boy’s cherry-red lips fell open around a soft moan as Calum kissed
slowly down his neck.
“Cal,” Michael whimpered and Calum groaned at how wrecked Michael already
sounded, pressing a bruising kiss to his boyfriend’s lips as their cocks
hardened between them. Michael’s hands squirmed under Calum’s t-shirt, raising
it clumsily so that he could scratch gently at his boyfriend’s muscular back,
and Calum’s breath escaped him in a hiss as he bit Michael’s bottom lip again.
“How far do you want to –”
“All the way,” Michael gasped out, the desperation clear on his face although
his soft green eyes blazed with determination. Calum’s mouth fell open in
surprise and Michael tangled his fingers in his boyfriend’s hair, tugging him
down lightly for a kiss which didn’t progress anywhere because Calum was still
gaping at him in apparent shock.
“Are you sure you’re… sure?” Calum sounded stunned and Michael smiled
awkwardly, chewing his bottom lip until Calum freed it gently with the pad of
his thumb, pressing a little kiss there instead.
“I’m sure,” Michael promised and, despite the faint nervousness colouring his
tone, he seemed to mean it. “I’ve wanted this for ages, Cal. Since that time in
the fucking shower.” He let out a soft breathless laugh but Calum groaned
quietly at the memory. “I just wanted to be sure.”
“I need you to be,” Calum said quietly, his dark eyes serious despite how
flushed he looked as he cradled Michael’s cheek gently in his trembling palm.
“I don’t ever wanna hurt you, kitten. You mean everything to me. You’re my
whole world.”
Michael gazed up at him, a soft smile curving his lips as he stroked Calum’s
cheeks gently with his fingertips.
“You mean everything to me too,” the golden-haired boy whispered, humming
contentedly when Calum pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “That’s why I want
this.”
“Okay,” Calum whispered, chocolate brown eyes twinkling as he smiled at
Michael. “Okay. Just… let me go get the stuff,” he mumbled, jerking his thumb
awkwardly towards the house. “Do you want to wait here or –”
Michael felt heartened at how flustered Calum seemed and he felt something calm
inside him.
“I’ll stay here,” the younger boy said calmly, pressing a soft kiss to the
corner of Calum’s mouth although his heart was beating too fast in his chest.
Calum nodded but, when he moved to push himself up, the golden-haired boy
wrapped his fingers loosely around Calum’s wrist. “Don’t be long,” Michael
cautioned and Calum saw the vulnerability for what it was, his expression
softening.
“I’ll be back before the song ends,” he promised, pressing a fleeting kiss to
Michael’s cheek before he was scrambling up off the sofa bed and hurtling
towards the garage door. He ricocheted off one of the boxes as he slid the door
open and Michael chuckled despite himself.
“Try not to maim yourself,” the younger boy added and Calum scoffed at him,
clearly fighting a smile.
“Stop sassing me,” Calum retorted. He disappeared into the house and Michael
shivered at the cool air, kicking his shoes off and slipping under the duvet
before he decided to wriggle out of his jeans too. He kept Calum’s t-shirt on
since the familiar smell calmed him and he felt his cheeks go hot when the blue
silk of his underwear caught deliciously against his half-hard cock.
“Hurry up, Calum,” Michael murmured but, no sooner had the words escaped him,
his boyfriend returned. Calum looked very proud of himself as he emptied his
pockets onto one of the sealed boxes nearby, dropping a little bottle of lube
and a handful of condoms there before he went to shut the door again.
“How many times were you planning to fuck me?” Michael asked bluntly when he
saw how many condoms his boyfriend had grabbed, hiding his nervousness behind
bluster. (He figured, with a touch of unease, that perhaps he’d picked this
habit up from his father.) Calum simply rolled his eyes though, brushing
Michael’s cheekbone gently with his knuckles.
“Just the once should be enough, kitten,” Calum said teasingly. “It never hurts
to be prepared though. It isn’t like the films – I don’t want to accidentally
tear the condom and then have to go looking for another one. That’d kill the
mood somewhat.”
“I’ll probably find a way to do that anyway,” Michael pointed out but he was
smiling now, nibbling his bottom lip anxiously although his pupils were blown.
He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Calum’s face; couldn’t stop his heart from
melting at the love he could see there.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” Michael breathed and a needy sound escaped Calum
as he climbed back into bed beside Michael, settling down over him and groaning
quietly when he realised that his boyfriend had already taken his jeans off.
Calum struggled out of his own with only mild difficulty and Michael was
smiling as he drew the older man into a kiss, sucking Calum’s lip into his
mouth and biting down on it lightly when Calum reached to rub the heel of his
palm over Michael’s cock, coaxing him to full hardness.
“Cal,” Michael gasped as lust rippled through him. Calum smirked, leaning to
suck kisses into the pale skin of his boyfriend’s shoulders as he eased his
hand carefully into the heat of Michael’s underwear. The silk was cool against
Calum’s skin and a whine built in Michael’s throat as Calum wrapped his fingers
around the younger boy’s cock, smearing his thumb over the head and spreading
the pre-cum down the shaft. Michael’s hips jerked and his breath was punched
out of him in a broken gasp, and Calum smiled as he pushed Michael’s t-shirt
up, ducking his head to wash his tongue over the younger boy’s nipple. The
sudden damp heat made Michael groan and his hips began to shift restlessly into
Calum’s fist as he panted hotly, the flush beginning to spread down his chest.
Michael’s hands twisted in the soft fabric of the pillows and Calum’s dimples
creased his cheeks when he saw the leather bracelet he’d made still tied around
Michael’s wrist.
“You’re amazing, baby boy,” Calum whispered, his heart so full of love that it
almost hurt to breathe around. Michael’s thigh slipped between Calum’s legs to
give him some much needed friction and the dark-haired man shifted
unconsciously, moaning quietly when he felt the heat spreading pleasantly
through his stomach. “So lucky to have you, kitten. Love you so much.”
“Cal, please,” Michael gasped out, his eyes damp with tears as he drew Calum in
for another desperate kiss. Michael’s small hands fell to pull shakily at his
underwear and Calum helped him out of it carefully. “Ready for you to… Please.”
“Okay,” Calum said reassuringly, bumping his lips against Michael’s in a clumsy
kiss as he reached blindly for the lube. It was cool on his fingers when he
squeezed some out, the sound embarrassing and unmistakable in the quiet, and
Calum could feel himself blushing as he warmed the lube carefully between his
fingers, slicking them up. “It’s okay, Mikey. I’ve got you.”
Michael clung to Calum, arms wrapped tightly around the dark-haired man’s broad
shoulders as he reached down to stroke a lube wet finger over Michael’s soft
pink hole. The golden-haired boy gasped raggedly, his hips jerking when Calum
pushed the tip in gently. Michael moaned as he pushed back desperately against
the pressure, already wanting Calum deeper… god, always so desperate for
anything Calum would give him.
Michael moaned brokenly when Calum pushed his finger deeper, beginning to
thrust it in and out gently as the lust made Michael’s toes curl. The pleasure
was making Michael’s head spin now and he could feel how Calum was beginning to
leak inside his boxers because the older man was still rocking his hips
unconsciously against his boyfriend’s thigh.
When Calum slipped another finger in beside the first, a whine tore out of
Michael that was so impossibly hot that Calum couldn’t resist sucking a kiss
into his throat, bursting the blood vessels and bruising the skin with his
teeth as Michael cried out Calum’s name, the word humid against his boyfriend’s
neck as pre-cum welled on the head of his cock.
“You’re so hot, Mikey. So good,” Calum whispered as he began to scissor his
fingers, stretching the muscles gently as a desperate sob tore out of the
younger boy. “So good for me, aren’t you? Love you, Mikey. Love you so much.”
Calum kissed the tears from Michael’s cheeks as the younger boy worked his hips
back desperately against Calum’s fingers, chasing the feeling of being full.
Calum’s cock was fully hard and leaking now, and he groaned softly at the sight
of the love-bite he’d sucked into the pale skin of Michael’s throat.
“My good boy,” Calum whispered as he carefully eased a third finger in
alongside the others.
Michael couldn’t keep his needy sounds in anymore and his eyelashes were spiky
with tears when he gazed up at Calum, barely able to see him past the dampness
in his eyes as the fairy lights made everything pleasantly hazy. It made Calum
look like he had a halo almost and Michael wanted to joke about it but… but he
couldn’t concentrate on the words when Calum was opening him up like that… when
he was taking him carefully to pieces with his long fingers and his mouth
latched onto Michael’s throat, darkening the bruise there.
Michael felt so good that he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore. He was
leaking enough that the head of his cock felt slippery with it now and the heat
coiling between his legs was almost too much to bear as his muscles fluttered,
clenching reflexively around Calum’s long fingers. A cry clawed its way out of
Michael’s throat when Calum’s fingertips finally pressed against his prostate
and the pleasure inside Michael made him feel like he was about to burst as his
breath tore out of him in a gasp.
“Mikey?” Calum whispered, kissing another tear from Michael’s cheek lovingly as
he took in the younger boy’s overheated face with adoration saturating his
expression. “Are you okay, kitten?”
“Yeah,” Michael murmured. “I’m ready, Cal. I need –” His voice broke when Calum
eased his fingers out carefully and the golden-haired boy’s face crumpled at
the sudden emptiness. Calum’s heart panged as he pressed a soft kiss to
Michael’s swollen lips.
“You sure you’re ready?” Calum breathed and Michael nodded, squaring his jaw as
he looked up at Calum with blazing eyes. The look on his pale face took Calum’s
breath away, and he couldn’t help but kiss him when he saw the vulnerability
and the love twisting to form something so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Calum
realised then that he would never let Michael go.
He was the best thing that would ever happen to him.
That was why Calum was determined to keep Michael safe and happy. The younger
boy was precious and Calum loved him more than he would ever be able to put
into words… not that that would stop him from trying of course. Calum intended
to keep telling Michael he loved him for the rest of their lives.
“You wanna keep my t-shirt on?” Calum suggested breathlessly as he carded his
fingers comfortingly through the younger boy’s hair, kissing his sweaty
forehead. “Might make you feel more comfortable?”
Michael bit his lip, nodding slowly as a hesitant smile twisted his lips. He
seemed to be trying to calm himself and Calum was so proud of him; loved him so
much he felt like he was going to burst with it. He hoped his boyfriend knew
how much he adored him.
Calum hoped Michael never forgot.
“Thank you, Cal,” the golden-haired boy said quietly before he suddenly seemed
to remember how turned on he was. “Please can you… please?”
“Yes,” Calum whispered, brushing a soft kiss over Michael’s cherry-red lips
before he kicked his boxers off, reaching for a condom and rolling it on with
only mild difficulty before he squeezed some of the lube into his palm. Calum
fisted his achingly hard cock swiftly to slick himself up, shuddering at the
feeling of his fingers wrapped loosely around himself.
He was already so desperate that even this felt like too much. He didn’t think
he was going to last long at all but he had a feeling Michael was probably
feeling much the same right now. The younger boy’s hand had fallen to tug
distractedly at his own cock and the pleasure was making two points of colour
bloom on Michael’s cheeks as he drew his bottom lip into his mouth, watching
his boyfriend with darkened eyes.
“Love you,” Calum whispered and Michael’s eyes sparkled as his hand fell from
his cock to smooth comfortingly down Calum’s ribs instead, taking in his
boyfriend’s dimples and tattooed skin.
“Love you back,” Michael said with a faint smile. “Please, Cal. Want you.”
“Want you too, baby boy,” Calum whispered, eyes crinkling sweetly as he stroked
Michael’s hair back from his forehead. “Want you so bad… but this is about you,
okay? Not me.” He kissed Michael gently when the younger boy started to
protest, waiting until he had quietened and relaxed before he drew away. “You
just tell me if you need me to stop, okay?” Calum asked seriously, his dark
eyes soft but leaving no room for argument. “Don’t stay quiet if something
hurts or you don’t like it or something. I’d never forgive myself if I hurt
you. You have to promise me, Mikey, okay?”
Michael regarded him with slightly wide eyes but he looked touched and the love
on his face never faded.
“Of course, Cal,” he said softly, stretching up to kiss Calum lightly on the
cheek. “I promise. Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
Calum flushed with pleasure at those words and Michael smiled, settling back
more comfortably on the thin mattress although he shot Calum a pointed look
that clearly said ‘get on with it already’. Calum rolled his eyes good-
naturedly but he couldn’t resist the smile curving his lips as he ran his hands
comfortingly down Michael’s sides through the soft cotton of the t-shirt.
“Never wanna let you go, kitten,” Calum breathed as he spread Michael’s thighs
gently, shifting forwards until their cocks brushed together slickly, making a
soft whine escape Michael as his cock throbbed against his tummy. “Not ever.”
“Then don’t,” Michael challenged but he couldn’t keep the desperation from his
face anymore, especially when Calum grinded against him unconsciously, bringing
them both closer to the edge.
“Please,” Michael begged thickly, the word hot against his boyfriend’s skin and
saturated with so much lust that Calum could already feel it threatening to
undo him. “Need you so bad, Cal. Please.”
“I will,” Calum promised. “I’ve got you. Just try to relax, kitten, okay? It’ll
feel so good.”
Calum looked down between them as he spoke, taking in the little whimper that
escaped Michael as he carefully lined himself up. Calum shifted closer once he
was satisfied, moving so that the head of his cock caught on Michael’s hole and
threatened to push inside although, frustratingly, he didn’t actually let it.
Calum tilted his head to the side hesitantly instead and, when Michael nodded
jerkily at him with too-bright eyes and flushed cheeks, Calum began to push in.
The pressure and friction was instantly wonderful but, in the back of Calum’s
mind behind the haze of lust rapidly clouding his thoughts, he knew Michael had
to feel a lot more overwhelmed. The younger boy’s breath escaped him in a
broken gasp and his eyes grew wet at the steady burning push as Calum filled
the emptiness inside him… making him feel whole almost… like Calum was all
Michael had ever needed.
Michael couldn’t find his voice when Calum asked him if he was okay but he
nodded urgently, clawing at Calum’s back unthinkingly as the older man buried
himself inside Michael with a soft groan. A whine tore out of Michael and he
moaned brokenly when he felt himself clenching unconsciously around the heat of
Calum’s cock, feeling so spread and full that everything but this moment
slipped right out of his head.
All that mattered was now.
“Please,” Michael cried out when the unmoving press of Calum’s cock became too
much. “Please, Cal, please. Need you to – fuck!” Michael’s moan was torn from
him when Calum rocked his hips gently, drawing back a little and thrusting back
in just as carefully. The pleasure was making Michael want to cry now as the
dull ache faded and his cock leaked pearly drops of pre-cum over his pale skin.
“Yeah,” the younger boy whispered, eyes slipping shut in contentment as Calum
fucked in a little deeper. “Yeah, Cally, just like that.”
Heartened, Calum’s hands fell to grip Michael’s soft waist as his thrusts
slowly became faster. He was careful not to let them get harder though; Michael
might be enjoying this but Calum didn’t want to break him. His boyfriend was
far too precious for any sort of carelessness at all.
“So lovely, baby boy,” Calum whispered, letting his forehead rest gently
against Michael’s as he changed the angle of his hips, searching for –
There.
A strangled sob escaped Michael when Calum’s cock hit his prostate and Calum
felt almost delirious as he hid his smile in his boyfriend’s neck, sucking and
kissing the sensitive skin there as Michael threatened to shudder apart in his
arms.
He was making soft surprised sounds with every thrust now, his body shifting
further up the bed as Calum hit his prostate again and again, dragging these
little choked whimpers and moans from him as the tears leaked down his
overheated cheeks.
Michael felt so hot and tight around Calum, and the dark-haired man could
already feel his orgasm building inside him. His stomach was tightening and one
of Michael’s hands had just knotted in his hair, bringing him even closer, and
the dark-haired man wasn’t going to last another minute.
“Can’t believe you’re giving me this,” Calum gasped out, head falling to rest
on Michael’s shoulder as his breath tore out of him in a whine. The younger boy
could barely process his boyfriend’s words anymore; he was too far gone.
Every nerve in his body felt like it was on fire with how incredible this felt
and Calum’s cock sliding deep inside him was tearing Michael’s self-control
apart. His fingers were tangling tightly in Calum’s curls and his cock was
flushed an angry red now, leaking and throbbing as it brushed teasingly against
the toned muscles of Calum’s tanned stomach.
“Fuck, Mikey,” Calum gasped out when Michael started to fuck himself back onto
Calum’s cock, wrapping his shaking legs tightly around his boyfriend’s waist.
“You’re so amazing. This is so –”
Calum broke off with a startled moan when Michael suddenly clenched down
tightly around him, a desperate groan tearing out of him when Calum hit his
prostate straight on.
The pleasure rising inside Michael – mere sparks before – ignited like gasoline
and Michael’s climax hit him without warning.
His eyes fell shut and he stilled, body going rigid against Calum’s as he
clenched rhythmically around the older man’s cock, cum spurting out onto his
heaving chest as the pleasure flooded through him. His pale face was
illuminated by the soft glow of the fairy lights as he fell apart with a cry of
Calum’s name which quickly subsided into sobs. His face was blotchy and his
golden hair was sticking to his forehead, and his fingers were still twisting
just a little bit too tightly in the dark-haired man’s curls.
When Michael’s emerald green eyes flickered open and Calum saw the love burning
in them, that was all it took.
He came with a soft gasp, his hips grinding in deep as he chased the friction,
his face tucked away safely into Michael’s neck as their bodies shuddered
through the aftershocks together. Michael cuddled Calum closer once the older
man had eased out and kissed his boyfriend through the ache, wiping their tears
away with the corner of the duvet before Michael snuggled closer, tangling
their legs together warmly.
Calum’s dark eyes fluttered open after a few moments, his expression dazed but
full of love and gratitude. Michael hummed contentedly, apparently too wrecked
to speak although he couldn’t stop the wide smile from spreading across his
face.
Calum kissed Michael softly before he began to move so that he could lie beside
his boyfriend instead of on top of him. Michael didn’t want that though; he
liked the feeling of being blanketed by Calum’s body and, with a slight shrug,
the dark-haired man flopped back down again, laying half on top of the younger
boy with his head resting gently on Michael’s stomach.
Words didn’t seem to be necessary now; Calum simply brushed a soft kiss over
the pale skin, too tired to do anything else. He felt relief coursing through
him when he saw how happy and satisfied Michael looked, and a deep sigh escaped
Calum when Michael began to run his fingers lightly through the dark-haired
man’s curls, gently easing out the tangles.
Michael barely had the energy to keep his eyes open anymore but he didn’t mind;
the glow of the fairy lights mirrored the happiness he could feel saturating
the air between them, tangible when he saw the adoration reflected back at him
in his boyfriend’s lovely eyes.
Michael couldn’t stop smiling but that was nothing new.
With Calum beside him, he felt like he was finally whole.
Chapter End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     I really hope you liked this and I can't wait to hear what you think
     <3
     Only the epilogue left to go now....
***** Sure About You *****
Chapter Notes
     Hi everyone! This is the last chapter of that's why you like it and
     I'm so emotional right now.
     If there's any mistakes I've missed then I'll fix them later!
     Enjoy! :D
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Michael woke up to warm sunlight and soft fingertips dancing across the milky
skin of his back. His cheek was pressed to Calum’s bare chest and the older man
was smiling his crinkly-eyed smile when Michael finally persuaded himself to
raise his head. The walls of their bedroom were still a pearly grey and the
younger man’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pyjama top was faded now but he
continued to wear it.
It didn’t matter to either of them that Michael was twenty two now; if he
wanted to wear a baggy t-shirt with four fictional anthropomorphic turtles
named after Renaissance Italian artists then he damn well would.
“Morning, kitten,” Calum murmured, his chocolate brown eyes undeniably fond and
his dimples creasing his cheeks as he smiled, almost like he could tell what
his boyfriend was thinking. Michael snuggled closer to him, his arms wrapping
securely around the older man’s waist. He could feel his boyfriend’s words
where his ear was pressed to Calum’s chest and the closeness made him so deeply
content.
“Mikey,” Calum said quietly, his tone wry with amusement when the younger man’s
soft green eyes slipped shut. “We need to get up.”
“Ten more minutes,” Michael mumbled, pressing his face into Calum’s chest and
giggling sleepily when his boyfriend let his fingers lightly tickle Michael’s
ribs. Soft lips brushed his golden hair and Michael looked up, smiling despite
himself.
“We don’t have ten more minutes,” Calum said, giving Michael a reprimanding
poke on the nose. “We have a busy day today. Surely you remember?”
Michael smiled as he thought about their plans for the day. They were meeting
Ashton and Bryana, and Luke and Brian for breakfast at ten - Michael refused to
call it brunch although that was undoubtedly what it was - and then he was
going with Calum to visit Mali and Tom later that afternoon.
Calum’s parents would be there too and Michael was so glad that was no longer
cause for stress. Calum had reunited with Joy and David Hood almost five years
ago - a year before Michael’s parents had moved out of the area and the younger
man had moved in with his boyfriend - and, as time went by, Calum and his
parents had worked together to rebuild their relationship.
Michael was so glad of it and he knew Mali felt the same too. The pair of them
had met up a week before while Calum was training his team for the Australian
Football League championships. They’d gone to a bar and got slightly tipsy
drinking red wine, and Mali had thanked Michael for encouraging Calum to follow
his heart and give his parents a chance to apologise.
Michael couldn’t accept her gratitude alone though. He knew Luke’s love had
played a part too; Ashton’s support and Bryana’s kindness. Calum was still
surrounded by people who loved him and Michael hoped that was always the case.
Calum would never feel alone again.
“Fine,” Michael said, grumbling good-naturedly as he allowed Calum to pull him
from the warmth of the bed. “But I think I deserve at least a hand job in the
shower if you’re making me stand up.” Calum snorted but the sound was
undeniably fond as he drew the younger man into a gentle hug, pressing a soft
kiss to his forehead.
“Whoever said romance was dead?” Calum teased.
                                       *
The tattoo parlour was hot and stuffy, and Michael was panicking just a little
bit. Calum was reclining in the leather chair, one tanned arm stretched out as
the tattooist worked on adding Michael’s name in a swirling font beneath the
flower inked into Calum’s bicep. It was cliche and possibly a little bit too
sweet but Michael was so in love with it -
At least until he glanced down and saw a bead of blood welling up on Calum’s
soft skin.
Michael blanched visibly, folding his arms loosely across his chest and leaning
back in his chair with a shaky sigh. Calum opened his dark eyes - still
glittering even when he was getting tattooed by a scary lady in a smock - and
the easy expression on his face became faintly concerned when he saw the
delicate green Michael had turned.
“Mikey?” Calum asked softly, making the tattooist glance up at the golden-
haired man warily. “You okay, babe? You need to step outside?”
“I’m okay,” Michael said unconvincingly, his voice several octaves too high. He
winced. “You’re just… bleeding a little bit. I didn’t think there’d be blood.”
“Your boyfriend’s skin is being punctured repeatedly by a needle,” the woman
said in a dry voice. “Of course he’s bleeding. It would be weird if he wasn’t.”
“Not helping,” Calum said.
“Not sorry,” the woman retorted but her eyes were sparkling a little and she
winked when Michael looked up at her shyly. “So,” she continued, blue eyes
bright as she focused on finishing Calum’s tattoo. “Do you think you’ll be
coming back here for a tattoo one day, Michael?” she asked.
“No way,” Michael said faintly, looking at the blood and shuddering despite
himself. “Wait, how do you know my name?” She looked at him blandly and Calum
snickered to himself, and Michael felt his cheeks heating scarlet when he
looked at the newest tattoo adorning Calum’s skin.
“Oh,” Michael mumbled, cheeks heating. “You just tattooed my name on his arm.”
“Very good,” she said teasingly. “Well, there’s that and the fact that he
didn’t stop going on about you during his consultation. It was so sweet I had
to go and clean my teeth afterwards. I’ll probably need fillings.”
“You can send us your dentist’s bill then, Lucy,” Calum said and the woman
smiled despite herself as she finished up, setting the tattoo machine down and
stretching out her back.
“It’s finished,” she said, gesturing for Calum to move. She gave Michael a
surprisingly soft smile as he helped Calum up, fingers entwining gently with
the older man’s. “Go and have a look in the mirror, yeah? Make sure you’re
happy with it.”
Calum did as she asked, weaving between the two leather chairs and coming to a
stop in front of the mirror. Michael hovered beside him, his green eyes growing
damp as he saw the letters curving into Calum’s reddened skin.
“That’s me,” Michael breathed shakily as one of the tears slipped free. Calum’s
face softened as he cupped Michael’s cheeks gently, pressing a soft, loving
kiss to his boyfriend’s lips.
“You,” Calum repeated solemnly.
Lucy appeared behind them, still wearing her gloves as she tilted her head to
one side curiously. “Happy with it?” she checked and, when Calum nodded
gratefully, she allowed a soft smile to touch her lips. “Brilliant,” she said
as she reached for a small square bandage and some tape. “I’ll just wrap it up
for you and then you can come upstairs to discuss the payment, okay?”
“Sure,” Calum said as she applied the bandage carefully. “That’s brilliant.
Thank you so much, Lucy.”
She left them alone in the studio and Calum let out a pent-up breath he hadn’t
realised he’d been holding in. His curls were sticking to his forehead with
sweat from how warm it was in the room and Michael let his head fall to rest
gently on his boyfriend’s broad shoulder.
“I love you, Cal,” Michael said softly. Calum grinned, dark eyes crinkling as
he flung his good arm around Michael’s waist, almost sweeping the smaller man
off his feet as the golden-haired man let out a startled laugh.
“Love you too, Mikey,” Calum promised, pressing a soft kiss to Michael’s nose
before his expression became faintly concerned. “You still look a little peaky
though. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Rude,” Michael grinned before he sobered a little. “I’m alright though. I
just… you know… hate blood… and now I feel a bit shitty because I always said I
wanted tattoos but that just showed me that I am in no way ready to let Lucy
stab me repeatedly in the arm with a needle.”
“It’s actually nothing like that,” Calum pointed out fairly but his eyes
remained soft. “Doesn’t matter though, Mike. No one’s judging you. If you don’t
want it then you don’t have to. It’s your body. No one can make you do anything
you don’t want to.”
“Yeah…” Michael’s cheeks were flaming as he helped Calum gather his things
before the pair of them headed towards the stairs leading up to the shopfront.
“But I really did want a pretty flower tattoo,” he said sadly.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” Calum said and there was something
faintly knowing in his tone now. “I think I have an idea.”
He wouldn’t tell Michael what it was and the golden-haired man didn’t bother to
get irritated by it. Calum had always liked surprising him with things and
Michael had grown to enjoy it more the older he got. This time, fortunately,
Calum didn’t make him wait too long.
The dark-haired man was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for him when
Michael got home the next day, parking his slightly battered car on the
driveway behind Calum’s before he carried his empty lunchbox over to the sink.
“Hey, babe,” Calum said in a purposefully innocent voice. “Did you have a good
day?”
“It was alright,” Michael allowed but his lips were curving into a smile now as
he turned to survey his boyfriend. Calum was sitting in his usual seat, hiding
whatever he was doing behind the fruit bowl. Michael wondered vaguely if Calum
would ever realise that this never exactly worked and a part of him hoped he
didn’t; it reminded him of the pink leather bracelet Calum had once made him
that Michael was still wearing even now.
“I know you said you weren’t ready for a tattoo,” Calum began, his soft brown
eyes drinking in the fondness saturating Michael’s face. “But I found a way
around that. Come and sit with me, Mikey. Move aside the fruit bowl of
destiny.”
“Weirdo,” Michael said but the word was decidedly fond as he did what his
boyfriend had asked. His eyebrows rose when he saw a damp paper towel and a
little cut out shape that Calum quickly shielded with his hand. “What’re we
doing, Cal?”
“Give me your arm,” Calum said instead of replying. “Gimee, gimee. Quick.
Before the paper towel dries.”
Michael rolled his eyes but did as Calum asked, pushing his sleeve back and
letting his arm rest on the tabletop. Calum wiped it quickly to clean the skin
on the inside of his wrist and then patted it dry before he reached for the
little cut out shape, peeling a layer of plastic away and pushing it picture-
side down onto his boyfriend’s skin.
A smile was beginning to grow on Michael’s face now as an inkling of what Calum
was doing occurred to him. Calum beamed proudly when he covered the little
shape with a damp cloth and Michael hummed contentedly as they waited. Calum’s
feet brushed his under the table and Michael’s heart swelled with love as they
sat together in their little kitchen, taking in the fridge door covered in
pictures of them and the wild flowers gathered in a vase on the table beside
them.
“Think it might be done,” Calum said vaguely but he was still smiling as he
carefully removed the cloth. After a slight hesitation, Calum reached to
carefully peel the little cut-out shape from his boyfriend’s skin.
Michael laughed delightedly when he saw the little flower tattoo Calum had left
on his arm. It was a little daisy with a black outline and the golden-haired
man couldn’t keep the smile off his face when Calum drew him into a gentle hug
on his lap.
“This is the cutest thing ever, Cal,” Michael grinned, his emerald eyes
sparkling as he drew the older man into a soft kiss. “The actual cutest.”
“Really? Guess I better up my game,” Calum teased but there was something
twinkling in his eyes as he pressed a gentle kiss to the younger man’s jaw.
“I’m glad you like it, kitten.”
“I love it,” Michael corrected honestly, his eyes blazing sincerity as he
smiled down at the little flower fondly. “Maybe I’ll be brave enough to get
this for real one day.”
“Maybe,” Calum said but his tone was still just as soft as it had been the day
before. “When you’re sure.”
“I’m sure about you, Cal,” Michael said and the dark-haired man smiled gently.
“I know you are,” Calum said and there was definitely something buried in his
eyes now… something excited and hopeful and adoring. “I’m sure about you too,
Mike. I always have been.”
Michael settled back against him with a contented sigh and Calum’s arms were
warm as they curled protectively around his boyfriend’s soft waist. The sun was
just beginning to set behind their garden fence and, for just a moment, it
reminded Michael of the first evening he’d ever spent at Calum’s house, with
spaghetti and ‘kitten’, and their first real kiss together.
“I love you so fucking much,” Michael said softly, his voice thick with it for
a moment, and Calum laughed giddily as he cuddled Michael tighter, grumbling
cheerfully when Michael got up to open the fridge, probably trying to decide
what to cook them for dinner.
“That’s good then,” Calum said suddenly, catching the younger man’s attention.
“Or this would be so awkward.”
Michael turned slowly and his heart clenched in his chest when he saw Calum on
one knee in the middle of their kitchen, a ring box balanced in his palm as he
gave Michael a crooked smile.
“Maybe we can finally try out that whole marriage thing we keep joking about,”
Calum said, his voice light but so soft as he lay his heart there for Michael
to see. “What do you say, kitten?”
“Holy shit, Calum,” Michael gasped out, leaning back heavily against the
counter as he clutched his chest. “You did not just propose to me like that.”
“So is that a no?” Calum asked innocently but his eyes were crinkling and he
was smiling brighter than his boyfriend had ever seen as he set the ring box
shakily on the table. Michael launched himself at his boyfriend and Calum
cackled as the pair of them tumbled down onto the kitchen floor, arms winding
around each other and pink rising in their cheeks. Michael rolled his eyes so
fondly as he tangled his fingers in Calum’s dark curls, drawing him in for a
soft kiss.
“It’s a yes, you idiot,” Michael said softly, his eyelashes spiky with tears,
the adoration flooding his face.
“Good. That’s good,” Calum said quietly but he was beaming so much right now.
“I love you too, kitten.”
Chapter End Notes
     I can't believe the story is finally over!
     I've been writing it for almost a year now, give or take a couple of
     months, and I can't believe how fast the time has flown! I can't
     thank you enough for sticking by Michael and Calum on their journey,
     and I can't even tell you how much your feedback meant - you
     encouraged me to continue every time I felt like I couldn't and it
     means the whole world. :)
     Thank you all so, so, so much for reading! <3
     Please let me know what you thought - just one more time, yeah?
End Notes
     Thank you so much for reading!
     Please let me know what you thought by leaving comments and kudos :)
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