Fic: Unstoppable, 20/22 (Don/Charlie, NC-17)
Fic: Unstoppable, 20/22
Author: Neena
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Don/Charlie
Warnings: Incest, coerced sex, violence, attempted suicide
Charlie couldn’t stop touching Don. He’d never felt such cold, stark fear as he had when he’d thought Don might be dead - gone forever. And to have him back, and to know he felt the same way on top of it… caused such a drastic swing in his mood that he was left feeling shaky and on edge - like the slightest breeze could shatter him to pieces.
Don let him smother him with kisses, and seeing his eyes crinkle up in a smile for the first time in ages made him want to go on kissing him forever. But kneeling on the floor was really starting to hurt. Reluctantly, Charlie let Don go and attempted to get back up to the bed.
He was a little embarrassed when he had to ask Don for help, but it was worth it to have his brother gather him up in his arms and lay him out on the bed. For a moment, Charlie thought Don might take things further, but when he looked down at him, his smile was gone and he seemed anxious.
“Don…” Charlie said, “whatever it is you’re thinking, you need to stop it - I can’t lose you again. I don’t think I could take it.” He hated how shaky his voice was almost as much as he hated seeing the guilt that flashed across his brother's face.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for doing that to you,” Don replied. Charlie tried to sit up, but Don placed a hand on his chest, right where Weiss had branded him with an ‘x’, and held him in place.
“Just...just hear me out,” Don continued. “My head’s been in a really bad place, lately, and I don’t want to scare you, but if Dad hadn’t found me...hell - I honestly don’t know what I would have done, Charlie. But I can tell you, my thoughts got pretty damn dark. I couldn’t see another way out, you know?”
Charlie’s throat was so tight he couldn’t get out a reply, all he could do was nod his head, encouraging his brother to go on, even if he was afraid to hear what he was going to say. Maybe he’d misread him earlier. Maybe Don really didn’t want him that way. Or maybe he did, and it was too much for him to deal with.
“What Weiss made me do to you...I hope you know that I would never have done that if I didn't think it was the only way to keep you and Dad alive. I’m your brother!"
“Don…” Charlie wheezed, feeling like someone was tightening a vice around his chest, his worst fears seemingly confirmed.
“Shh, Charlie. Just...let me finish, okay?” Don said, taking a few seconds to gather up his courage again. “Like I said, I never thought of you that way, and even if I had, I would never have acted on it. But when I kissed you...it was like the floodgates had opened, and everything I felt for you just came pouring out.
"I’ve been trying so hard to deny it, but I can’t do it anymore. I love you, Charlie. I’m in love with you. And it’s not fair of me to dump this on you, when looking at me must remind you of the most terrifying night of your life. But I also know it’s not fair of me hide the truth from you. You have the right to know and I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you want me to stay or not. Whatever you decide, I’ll honour it. I made a promise to Dad that I would never do anything to hurt you, even if it means staying away from you.”
Charlie’s head was reeling from Don’s confession. Outside of Dr. Bradford’s office, he’d never heard his brother string together more than a few words at a time on the subject of his feelings. It was like he was clearing the air - purging himself for a final farewell. Charlie shook his head. It baffled him that Don could be so blind that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him.
“You done beating yourself up now?” Charlie asked. “How can you possibly think I’d ever turn you away? That night, when you made love to me - and don’t even think of arguing that it was anything else - it was...well, it was life-altering. And I’m not being over-dramatic. God! All I’ve wanted since then was to feel you inside me again! I love you, Don! In every possible sense of the word!”
Charlie flushed hotly at his admission, and saw a matching blush rising in Don’s cheeks. But he didn’t care. If Don could admit his feelings, so could he. It made him feel lighter, like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he could breathe again.
“You mean that?” Don asked. “‘Cause I’m not just talking about some fleeting infatuation, here. For me, this isn't just about sex. If we do this, I’m all in. And it won’t be easy, you gotta know that. So if you’re not sure this is what you want, tell me now.”
“I’m sure,” Charlie replied, fixing Don with a solemn expression before pulling his brother down on top of him and sliding his hands up his back. “I swear, I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Don studied his face for a moment, as if deciding whether or not he was telling the truth, then he tentatively brought their lips together in a chaste kiss. When he drew back, Charlie tried to follow, but Don held him at arm's length.
“Let’s not rush this, okay?” Don said, countering his words with a soft, open-mouthed kiss just below Charlie’s ear that made him squirm. “I want to do this right. Take it slow and make sure it’s what you really want.”
“It is,” Charlie protested, and proved it by grinding his hips up into Don’s to show him just how much he wanted him.
“Good. That’s...Jesus! That’s good,” Don groaned. But to Charlie’s dismay, all he did was roll onto his side and pull Charlie close until he was spooned up behind him. With their bodies pressed together from head to foot, there was no hiding Don's keen interest in taking things further. “But today I just need to hold you and know that you’re okay with it. Frankly, I’m too exhausted for much else right now, anyway. It’s been a long day.”
Charlie felt Don nuzzle up close, his nose rooting around at the base of his hairline and he shivered. He knew Don was right - there was no rush - and the emotional turmoil of the last few hours had completely worn him out, too.
“You promise you won’t chicken out on me?” Charlie asked.
Don kissed the back of his neck. “I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me,” he promised, and squeezed Charlie tight up against his body in a one-armed hug.
Charlie felt warm and safe and happier than he’d felt in a long time. In a matter of minutes, he was fast asleep, tucked securely against the solid heat of his brother.
***
Alan Eppes entered his home with some trepidation. He almost felt like he should ring the doorbell, in case he walked in on something. Of course he knew his sons wouldn’t do anything where he could just walk in on them. Hell, for all he knew, Charlie had turned Don down and he could be walking in on a whole different kind of aftermath.
He’d spent the last few hours driving around and thinking. Life had really thrown him a curveball with this one. He’d already decided that he’d support his boys no matter what they decided to do - or not do - about their feelings for each other. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It hurt like hell, knowing what this could mean for his kids. And if he was honest, the idea that he would never see his children get married and have kids of their own weighed heavy in his heart.
“Boys? I’m home,” Alan called out. He didn’t get an answer, but he hadn’t really yelled loud enough to be heard upstairs. He thought about calling them again, and decided not to.
Instead, he set the bag of groceries he’d brought home down on the dining room table and headed up the stairs. Maybe he was testing his resolve, to see if he could really handle seeing them together. Maybe he was trying to prove to the boys that he was okay with it. It didn’t matter. He just needed to know, one way or the other, what they’d decided.
As he came up on Charlie’s open doorway, he slowed his steps, listening carefully. He couldn’t hear anything that would indicate they needed their privacy, and Alan was pretty sure they wouldn’t leave the door open if they were...indisposed.
He peeked his head around the doorframe, holding his breath out of fear of what he’d find. But all he saw was the two of them, fully clothed - thank God - curled up together on top of the blankets, fast asleep. Don’s arm was wrapped protectively around Charlie’s chest, and they both looked so peaceful.
He felt a bitter-sweet pang in his chest seeing the two of them together like that. He’d wanted the world for his sons, but more than that, he wanted them to be happy. If this was what made them happy, he’d just have to learn to deal with it.
Alan withdrew from the doorway and quietly returned downstairs, leaving his boys to sleep a while longer.
***
Don woke to the wonderful smell of roasting meat. It smelled like steak, and it was coming from their backyard, he was sure of it.
Charlie was still asleep in his arms, and Don took a moment to indulge himself. His eyes pored over his brother’s sleeping form, taking in every whisker on his face, every ringlet of his hair, tracing the long line of muscle in his arm and the strong hands that, in waking, were constantly in motion but were now still and lax against the covers.
Don’s lips hovered above Charlie’s shoulder where his t-shirt had pulled away from his skin. He was so close he could feel the heat from his bare skin, warming his lips. He breathed in deeply, revelling in his brother’s scent, which was quickly becoming a trigger for him. Already he could feel himself getting hard, and he hadn’t even touched Charlie yet.
Don squeezed his eyes shut and willed his body to behave. If he was right, their dad was downstairs barbecuing their dinner, and whatever his dick had in mind would have to wait.
Gently, Don shook Charlie’s shoulder, smiling when his brother’s face scrunched up in annoyance.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Don whispered in his ear, letting his lips brush against the baby-soft flesh of Charlie’s earlobe.
Charlie moaned and twisted around to face him, his sleepy eyes blinking at him as a languid smile spread across his face. “I could get used to waking up like this,” he said, nudging Don’s nose with his own before teasing his lips with a plush kiss.
Now it was Don’s turn to moan, but more out of frustration. “Hold that thought, Buddy. Dad’s home, and I think he’s grilling up some steaks.”
“Dad?” Charlie sat up abruptly and looked like he wanted to hide under the bed. “Don - what if he saw us?” he asked, sounding panicked.
Don took up a position behind him and rubbed his shoulders soothingly. “It’s okay. He knows.”
Charlie craned his neck to look him in the eye. “What do you mean, ‘he knows’?”
“I told him everything I told you. He knows how I feel about you, and I think he had a pretty good idea that you felt the same way about me,” Don answered.
“And you’re telling me he’s okay with it?” Charlie asked in disbelief.
Don shrugged. “He’s the one who pushed me to come and talk to you.” He could practically see the wheels turning in Charlie’s head and figured there was no point putting off the inevitable. “Come on. We might as well face the music, huh?”
He took Charlie's hand in his, helping him to his feet, and they stood there for a minute, just holding hands like a couple of teenagers on a first date. Reluctantly, Don had to let Charlie’s hand go so he could use his crutches. But that didn't stop him from hovering, or from leaving his hand on Charlie's lower back the whole way down the stairs.
"Don," Charlie stage-whispered when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"What?"
"If you don't stop groping me, I'm never gonna make it through dinner."
Don gave his brother a wicked grin and slid his hand further south until Charlie squawked.
It was then they both noticed their father standing by the dining room table holding a plate full of foil-wrapped baked potatoes. Instantly sobered, Don snatched his hand away from Charlie’s ass and took a step back. Charlie suddenly found his shoes fascinating and had turned a dark shade of pink.
"So...I take it you're both on the same page now?" Alan asked.
Don looked at Charlie, who stole a quick glimpse back at him as if deciding if they should come clean or not. He could read in his brother’s eyes how nervous he was, but he could also see that Charlie was trusting him to get them through this. And after letting Charlie down over the last week, Don felt the need to step up to the plate.
“Yeah, Dad. I think we are,” Don said, sounding almost apologetic. “You gonna be okay with that?”
Alan set the plate down on the table and came around to stand in front of them, his wizened eyes studying them both carefully.
“If it’s what you honestly want, I’ll be fine,” he replied, a hint of resignation seeping through his outward show of support. “Now come and help me set the table. I barbequed some ribeyes.”
Don did as he was told and brought food and dishes out to the table while Charlie took a seat and waited for them. Alan kept up the lighthearted banter about basketball and the game that was on later, and for a while, everything seemed normal.
But as hard as he tried, Don couldn’t keep his eyes off Charlie for long, and his brother kept stealing wistful glances at him through the entire meal. By the time they’d finished eating, the big, pink elephant in the room was impossible to ignore.
“Oh, for god's sake, would you two just go hold hands on the couch or something,” Alan said as he stood and started gathering up the plates. “I feel like you’re gonna explode if you don’t. Go on - I’ll clear this up.”
“Dad…” Charlie said. “If it makes you uncomfortable, we don’t have to -”
Alan fixed him with a stern look. “This is your home, Charlie. Yours too, Don. If you’re gonna make it work between the two of you, then this is the one place where you should feel safe to be yourselves.”
Don and Charlie shared a startled glance with each other and Don shrugged. Who was he to disobey their father, after all? Helping Charlie to the couch, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Once he’d found the channel the game was on, he settled onto the couch next to his brother.
Feeling incredibly self-conscious, Don tentatively took Charlie’s hand in his. Charlie huffed at him and yanked on his arm until he was plastered against his side. Don’s heart was racing and he kept glancing back towards the kitchen where he could hear their father washing up. It felt so scary to be doing this where they could get caught.
That’s when it hit him that it would always be like this. But their dad was right - if they couldn’t be themselves here at home, then they didn’t stand a chance.
Don squeezed Charlie’s hand and then let it go. He could see his brother’s worried expression morph into a relieved smile as Don wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him even closer.
They both jumped a little when their father returned and found them that way on the couch, but to his credit, Alan didn’t flinch, simply taking a seat in the recliner with a beer in his hand.
“What? You didn’t get us one?” asked Don, testing the atmosphere.
“You know where the fridge is,” Alan replied. “And last I checked, you had two perfectly functioning legs. Unlike some of us.”
Don’s face crinkled up in a smile as he watched his dad take a long pull on his beer. “Maybe on the next commercial break,” he said and stretched his legs out to rest his feet on the coffee table, getting comfortable.
They watched the game together, cracking jokes and drinking beer just like they always had. And if Charlie’s head rested on Don’s shoulder, or Don’s hand wandered to play with Charlie’s hair, no one made a big deal about it. Don found himself smiling and laughing, amazed beyond belief that he could ever be so lucky.
Author: Neena
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Don/Charlie
Warnings: Incest, coerced sex, violence, attempted suicide
Charlie couldn’t stop touching Don. He’d never felt such cold, stark fear as he had when he’d thought Don might be dead - gone forever. And to have him back, and to know he felt the same way on top of it… caused such a drastic swing in his mood that he was left feeling shaky and on edge - like the slightest breeze could shatter him to pieces.
Don let him smother him with kisses, and seeing his eyes crinkle up in a smile for the first time in ages made him want to go on kissing him forever. But kneeling on the floor was really starting to hurt. Reluctantly, Charlie let Don go and attempted to get back up to the bed.
He was a little embarrassed when he had to ask Don for help, but it was worth it to have his brother gather him up in his arms and lay him out on the bed. For a moment, Charlie thought Don might take things further, but when he looked down at him, his smile was gone and he seemed anxious.
“Don…” Charlie said, “whatever it is you’re thinking, you need to stop it - I can’t lose you again. I don’t think I could take it.” He hated how shaky his voice was almost as much as he hated seeing the guilt that flashed across his brother's face.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for doing that to you,” Don replied. Charlie tried to sit up, but Don placed a hand on his chest, right where Weiss had branded him with an ‘x’, and held him in place.
“Just...just hear me out,” Don continued. “My head’s been in a really bad place, lately, and I don’t want to scare you, but if Dad hadn’t found me...hell - I honestly don’t know what I would have done, Charlie. But I can tell you, my thoughts got pretty damn dark. I couldn’t see another way out, you know?”
Charlie’s throat was so tight he couldn’t get out a reply, all he could do was nod his head, encouraging his brother to go on, even if he was afraid to hear what he was going to say. Maybe he’d misread him earlier. Maybe Don really didn’t want him that way. Or maybe he did, and it was too much for him to deal with.
“What Weiss made me do to you...I hope you know that I would never have done that if I didn't think it was the only way to keep you and Dad alive. I’m your brother!"
“Don…” Charlie wheezed, feeling like someone was tightening a vice around his chest, his worst fears seemingly confirmed.
“Shh, Charlie. Just...let me finish, okay?” Don said, taking a few seconds to gather up his courage again. “Like I said, I never thought of you that way, and even if I had, I would never have acted on it. But when I kissed you...it was like the floodgates had opened, and everything I felt for you just came pouring out.
"I’ve been trying so hard to deny it, but I can’t do it anymore. I love you, Charlie. I’m in love with you. And it’s not fair of me to dump this on you, when looking at me must remind you of the most terrifying night of your life. But I also know it’s not fair of me hide the truth from you. You have the right to know and I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you want me to stay or not. Whatever you decide, I’ll honour it. I made a promise to Dad that I would never do anything to hurt you, even if it means staying away from you.”
Charlie’s head was reeling from Don’s confession. Outside of Dr. Bradford’s office, he’d never heard his brother string together more than a few words at a time on the subject of his feelings. It was like he was clearing the air - purging himself for a final farewell. Charlie shook his head. It baffled him that Don could be so blind that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him.
“You done beating yourself up now?” Charlie asked. “How can you possibly think I’d ever turn you away? That night, when you made love to me - and don’t even think of arguing that it was anything else - it was...well, it was life-altering. And I’m not being over-dramatic. God! All I’ve wanted since then was to feel you inside me again! I love you, Don! In every possible sense of the word!”
Charlie flushed hotly at his admission, and saw a matching blush rising in Don’s cheeks. But he didn’t care. If Don could admit his feelings, so could he. It made him feel lighter, like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he could breathe again.
“You mean that?” Don asked. “‘Cause I’m not just talking about some fleeting infatuation, here. For me, this isn't just about sex. If we do this, I’m all in. And it won’t be easy, you gotta know that. So if you’re not sure this is what you want, tell me now.”
“I’m sure,” Charlie replied, fixing Don with a solemn expression before pulling his brother down on top of him and sliding his hands up his back. “I swear, I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Don studied his face for a moment, as if deciding whether or not he was telling the truth, then he tentatively brought their lips together in a chaste kiss. When he drew back, Charlie tried to follow, but Don held him at arm's length.
“Let’s not rush this, okay?” Don said, countering his words with a soft, open-mouthed kiss just below Charlie’s ear that made him squirm. “I want to do this right. Take it slow and make sure it’s what you really want.”
“It is,” Charlie protested, and proved it by grinding his hips up into Don’s to show him just how much he wanted him.
“Good. That’s...Jesus! That’s good,” Don groaned. But to Charlie’s dismay, all he did was roll onto his side and pull Charlie close until he was spooned up behind him. With their bodies pressed together from head to foot, there was no hiding Don's keen interest in taking things further. “But today I just need to hold you and know that you’re okay with it. Frankly, I’m too exhausted for much else right now, anyway. It’s been a long day.”
Charlie felt Don nuzzle up close, his nose rooting around at the base of his hairline and he shivered. He knew Don was right - there was no rush - and the emotional turmoil of the last few hours had completely worn him out, too.
“You promise you won’t chicken out on me?” Charlie asked.
Don kissed the back of his neck. “I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me,” he promised, and squeezed Charlie tight up against his body in a one-armed hug.
Charlie felt warm and safe and happier than he’d felt in a long time. In a matter of minutes, he was fast asleep, tucked securely against the solid heat of his brother.
***
Alan Eppes entered his home with some trepidation. He almost felt like he should ring the doorbell, in case he walked in on something. Of course he knew his sons wouldn’t do anything where he could just walk in on them. Hell, for all he knew, Charlie had turned Don down and he could be walking in on a whole different kind of aftermath.
He’d spent the last few hours driving around and thinking. Life had really thrown him a curveball with this one. He’d already decided that he’d support his boys no matter what they decided to do - or not do - about their feelings for each other. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. It hurt like hell, knowing what this could mean for his kids. And if he was honest, the idea that he would never see his children get married and have kids of their own weighed heavy in his heart.
“Boys? I’m home,” Alan called out. He didn’t get an answer, but he hadn’t really yelled loud enough to be heard upstairs. He thought about calling them again, and decided not to.
Instead, he set the bag of groceries he’d brought home down on the dining room table and headed up the stairs. Maybe he was testing his resolve, to see if he could really handle seeing them together. Maybe he was trying to prove to the boys that he was okay with it. It didn’t matter. He just needed to know, one way or the other, what they’d decided.
As he came up on Charlie’s open doorway, he slowed his steps, listening carefully. He couldn’t hear anything that would indicate they needed their privacy, and Alan was pretty sure they wouldn’t leave the door open if they were...indisposed.
He peeked his head around the doorframe, holding his breath out of fear of what he’d find. But all he saw was the two of them, fully clothed - thank God - curled up together on top of the blankets, fast asleep. Don’s arm was wrapped protectively around Charlie’s chest, and they both looked so peaceful.
He felt a bitter-sweet pang in his chest seeing the two of them together like that. He’d wanted the world for his sons, but more than that, he wanted them to be happy. If this was what made them happy, he’d just have to learn to deal with it.
Alan withdrew from the doorway and quietly returned downstairs, leaving his boys to sleep a while longer.
***
Don woke to the wonderful smell of roasting meat. It smelled like steak, and it was coming from their backyard, he was sure of it.
Charlie was still asleep in his arms, and Don took a moment to indulge himself. His eyes pored over his brother’s sleeping form, taking in every whisker on his face, every ringlet of his hair, tracing the long line of muscle in his arm and the strong hands that, in waking, were constantly in motion but were now still and lax against the covers.
Don’s lips hovered above Charlie’s shoulder where his t-shirt had pulled away from his skin. He was so close he could feel the heat from his bare skin, warming his lips. He breathed in deeply, revelling in his brother’s scent, which was quickly becoming a trigger for him. Already he could feel himself getting hard, and he hadn’t even touched Charlie yet.
Don squeezed his eyes shut and willed his body to behave. If he was right, their dad was downstairs barbecuing their dinner, and whatever his dick had in mind would have to wait.
Gently, Don shook Charlie’s shoulder, smiling when his brother’s face scrunched up in annoyance.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” Don whispered in his ear, letting his lips brush against the baby-soft flesh of Charlie’s earlobe.
Charlie moaned and twisted around to face him, his sleepy eyes blinking at him as a languid smile spread across his face. “I could get used to waking up like this,” he said, nudging Don’s nose with his own before teasing his lips with a plush kiss.
Now it was Don’s turn to moan, but more out of frustration. “Hold that thought, Buddy. Dad’s home, and I think he’s grilling up some steaks.”
“Dad?” Charlie sat up abruptly and looked like he wanted to hide under the bed. “Don - what if he saw us?” he asked, sounding panicked.
Don took up a position behind him and rubbed his shoulders soothingly. “It’s okay. He knows.”
Charlie craned his neck to look him in the eye. “What do you mean, ‘he knows’?”
“I told him everything I told you. He knows how I feel about you, and I think he had a pretty good idea that you felt the same way about me,” Don answered.
“And you’re telling me he’s okay with it?” Charlie asked in disbelief.
Don shrugged. “He’s the one who pushed me to come and talk to you.” He could practically see the wheels turning in Charlie’s head and figured there was no point putting off the inevitable. “Come on. We might as well face the music, huh?”
He took Charlie's hand in his, helping him to his feet, and they stood there for a minute, just holding hands like a couple of teenagers on a first date. Reluctantly, Don had to let Charlie’s hand go so he could use his crutches. But that didn't stop him from hovering, or from leaving his hand on Charlie's lower back the whole way down the stairs.
"Don," Charlie stage-whispered when they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"What?"
"If you don't stop groping me, I'm never gonna make it through dinner."
Don gave his brother a wicked grin and slid his hand further south until Charlie squawked.
It was then they both noticed their father standing by the dining room table holding a plate full of foil-wrapped baked potatoes. Instantly sobered, Don snatched his hand away from Charlie’s ass and took a step back. Charlie suddenly found his shoes fascinating and had turned a dark shade of pink.
"So...I take it you're both on the same page now?" Alan asked.
Don looked at Charlie, who stole a quick glimpse back at him as if deciding if they should come clean or not. He could read in his brother’s eyes how nervous he was, but he could also see that Charlie was trusting him to get them through this. And after letting Charlie down over the last week, Don felt the need to step up to the plate.
“Yeah, Dad. I think we are,” Don said, sounding almost apologetic. “You gonna be okay with that?”
Alan set the plate down on the table and came around to stand in front of them, his wizened eyes studying them both carefully.
“If it’s what you honestly want, I’ll be fine,” he replied, a hint of resignation seeping through his outward show of support. “Now come and help me set the table. I barbequed some ribeyes.”
Don did as he was told and brought food and dishes out to the table while Charlie took a seat and waited for them. Alan kept up the lighthearted banter about basketball and the game that was on later, and for a while, everything seemed normal.
But as hard as he tried, Don couldn’t keep his eyes off Charlie for long, and his brother kept stealing wistful glances at him through the entire meal. By the time they’d finished eating, the big, pink elephant in the room was impossible to ignore.
“Oh, for god's sake, would you two just go hold hands on the couch or something,” Alan said as he stood and started gathering up the plates. “I feel like you’re gonna explode if you don’t. Go on - I’ll clear this up.”
“Dad…” Charlie said. “If it makes you uncomfortable, we don’t have to -”
Alan fixed him with a stern look. “This is your home, Charlie. Yours too, Don. If you’re gonna make it work between the two of you, then this is the one place where you should feel safe to be yourselves.”
Don and Charlie shared a startled glance with each other and Don shrugged. Who was he to disobey their father, after all? Helping Charlie to the couch, he grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. Once he’d found the channel the game was on, he settled onto the couch next to his brother.
Feeling incredibly self-conscious, Don tentatively took Charlie’s hand in his. Charlie huffed at him and yanked on his arm until he was plastered against his side. Don’s heart was racing and he kept glancing back towards the kitchen where he could hear their father washing up. It felt so scary to be doing this where they could get caught.
That’s when it hit him that it would always be like this. But their dad was right - if they couldn’t be themselves here at home, then they didn’t stand a chance.
Don squeezed Charlie’s hand and then let it go. He could see his brother’s worried expression morph into a relieved smile as Don wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him even closer.
They both jumped a little when their father returned and found them that way on the couch, but to his credit, Alan didn’t flinch, simply taking a seat in the recliner with a beer in his hand.
“What? You didn’t get us one?” asked Don, testing the atmosphere.
“You know where the fridge is,” Alan replied. “And last I checked, you had two perfectly functioning legs. Unlike some of us.”
Don’s face crinkled up in a smile as he watched his dad take a long pull on his beer. “Maybe on the next commercial break,” he said and stretched his legs out to rest his feet on the coffee table, getting comfortable.
They watched the game together, cracking jokes and drinking beer just like they always had. And if Charlie’s head rested on Don’s shoulder, or Don’s hand wandered to play with Charlie’s hair, no one made a big deal about it. Don found himself smiling and laughing, amazed beyond belief that he could ever be so lucky.