Our Gentle Sin (3/?)
Title: Our Gentle Sin
Author: chibichi15
Beta: clarinettemuse
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: PG
Warning: None
Summary: Matthew is the pastor’s son in a small church. He’s about to experience a lot of change when a certain blond moves to town.
Disclaimer: All that I own is the idea. I do not own Muse and this never happened. Both would be nice though.
Feedback: Would be lovely and is much appreciated
A/N: A super, special thankyou to clarinettemuse. You were such a huge help with this chapter and I can’t thank you enough, bb.
Thank you for all of your comments. They were lovely. Happy reading! <3
Elise Bellamy had opened her home to the Howards to join them for their first American Thanksgiving. Despite the fact that no immediate family would visit, she always made an enormous spread for dinner. So, the Howards arrived at 11:30 that Thursday morning for brunch before the cooking olympics began. Marie Howard offered to help, not quite sure what to expect. Hannah kept herself entertained by watching Mrs. Bellamy and her mother cook things she had never seen before, but was excited to try. She was given the title of official taste tester and was ready to try all the dishes before anyone else.
Jack and John moved to recline in the den downstairs to watch the annual Thanksgiving football game. It had taken the assistant pastor barely any time to understand the rules of the American sport and the two men had already discussed potential hopefuls for the upcoming SuperBowl in February.
Matthew and Dominic sat across from each other at the dining room table letting their brunch settle a bit.
“Is this gonna be a day full of eating?” Dominic sighed as he slumped in his seat. “I’ve heard that Thanksgiving has a lot of food.”
Matthew grinned and looked beyond the blond’s shoulder to watch his mother in her element. “There’ll be a ton of food. I’m not even exaggerating. A literal ton. Pace yourself and you’ll evade the Tryptophan Coma.”
“Tryptophan Coma. Oh, my god,” Dominic giggled. Matthew stiffened a bit and the blond covered his mouth to try and stifle his laugh, wincing a bit when he realized what he had said. “Sorry.”
“S’fine.” The brunet looked out the window and ran his hand through his hair. He needed a haircut badly before his parents started to get oh him for it. “Want to go for a walk?” he suggested.
Dominic raised an eyebrow and leaned forward to whisper. “I think you know the answer to that.” Matthew grinned and rolled his eyes and pushed back from the table. The boys grabbed their coats from the rack and made their way to the door.
“Going for a walk, mom!” the brunet called out. Elise poked her head around the kitchen doorway. “We’ll be back in time for dinner.”
She blew each of the boys a kiss before waving them off and shifting back to the kitchen.
Brookside, Connecticut during Autumn was absolutely stunning. Each of the trees that lined the streets, mountaintops, and valleys gave off deep and vibrant yellows, oranges, purples, and reds. Normally by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, most of the trees would be bare in preparation for winter. However, the hued leaves were still hanging on and displaying their colors until the last possible moment.
The boys walked close together as the brisk wind would occasionally slip around and between them. At the end of Pinesbrooke Road was a faded white wooden fence. It looked like it had seen better days and Dominic watched as Matthew easily jumped it. The road appeared to be unused by anyone and was covered in leaves from earlier in the season. Dominic let his feet hit the ground on the other side of the fence and looked up at the canopy of thick branches. The sun was completely blocked out, giving the path before them a dark orange hue. He finally let his gaze fall on the brunet ahead of him before he jogged to catch up.
“This is my favorite hidden gem,” Matthew said after walking silently for a few minutes. “And when the leaves change like this, it just looks really cool. Like an endless sea of orange and yellow.”
“Do you come here to think and such?”
“Sometimes, yeah,” he answered, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It’s just a nice, quiet place. No one really comes out this way. So, it kinda feels like I have it to myself most days.”
They walked for another two miles before they reached a fork in the path. The one to the left led up a steep incline while the other made a gentle slope downward. Matthew stopped for a moment before choosing the path to the right. The road twisted and curved the deeper they went as they trudged through more leaves. After another fifteen minutes, Dominic could hear the soft sound of running water. The path led to the lip of a small, shallow brook. Small stones created a natural path from one end to the other that guided the way to a small indwelling on the other side.
Matthew stepped onto the first stone and held his balance as he turned back to grin at the blond. “We’re gonna go in there,” he said, pointing to the tiny cave.
Dominic nodded and followed. Each rock was slick from the wet moss on the tops, but Matthew moved without any trouble, gaining speed until he spun off the last stone and landed on the other side. The blond moved with less finesse, his feet slipping around and sometimes splashing into the brook. Once across, he laughed and shook off his shoes before the two of them went inside the opening. A small rock ledge made the perfect bench and they hoisted themselves up. The cave amplified the sounds of the brook and the birds chirping in the trees around them. The brunet sat cross-legged and leaned his back against the wall to face the blond.
“Do you like it?” he asked quietly. “I’ve never really brought anyone here before.”
“I must be pretty special, then,” Dominic said warmly. Matthew smiled and looked down in his lap as he nodded. “I love it. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Matthew closed his eyes, his annoying habit of chewing his lip and fidgeting with his hands coming back. It was obvious that he was nervous about something, and Dominic’s eyebrows knit together as he moved to settle between Matthew and the rock wall.
“Matt, what’s on your mind?” he asked softly, peering down to look up at his face. The brunet opened his eyes, feeling his friend’s face close to his. He sat back and Dominic leaned back against the wall, waiting for what needed to be said.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you something...for a while now,” he whispered before closing his eyes. “But I’m nervous.”
“You can tell me, Matt.”
Matthew sighed and turned, his gaze fell on Dominic’s, his deep blues locking with the blond’s gentle slate stare. Somehow in the short amount of time the two boys had known each other, those steely greys provided him all the confidence he needed. Dominic had managed to become his comfort, his reassurance in himself, and as the blond gave him a gentle nod, urging the smaller boy to continue, Matthew took a deep breath and finally spoke.
“I guess I’m nervous because of you. It’s not anything you’ve done. I’m just...really confused. You’re a great friend and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you.” He scratched the back of his neck, but continued on. “I’m also really attracted to you. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was struggling with my feelings and felt like it was wrong. Like I’m not supposed to be attracted to another man. I mean, they tell us enough times at church that it’s wrong, but I don’t want these feelings to go away. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable and I’d understand if you aren’t interested in me. I’m awkward and kind of a nerd and I’m not attractive and I don’t--”
Matthew’s breath caught in the middle of his throat as Dominic held his face in his hands. He leaned in, letting his forehead rest on the brunet’s as he smiled, blushing softly. “Sorry. You were starting to ramble and say things that weren’t true.”
Matthew let out a shaky breath and laughed quietly. “It’s kinda true…”
“I don’t think it is.” Dominic’s smile grew as his hands slid up to run through Matthew’s hair. “I think you’re attractive and I am attracted to you. I think it’s okay that you’re attracted to me. I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. You can’t help who you are attracted to.”
In that moment, Matthew’s bright blue eyes blinked uncontrollably as the boy in front of him continued to grin and hold him close. His mind was still processing the words that came from the blond’s lips. There was still shock, but there was no denying that he had just said the feeling was mutual. He closed his eyes and felt relief wash over him. Not at the fact that Dominic felt the same, but in the reassurance that Dominic understood exactly how he felt. And that it wasn’t wrong.
He was slightly startled when he felt his thumb wipe away a tear from his cheek he did not even realize had fallen.
“May I kiss you?” Dominic asked quietly. Matthew felt his heart swell as warmth spread throughout his body at the gentle query.
“Please.”
There were no sparks or fireworks. There was no wild passion. That would be for later. This kiss was innocent and gentle; the start of something new for the both of them. Matthew held onto the ends of Dominic’s coat, pulling him closer as the blond held his face and let his lips move slowly against the smaller boy’s. As quickly as it started, it was over. Dominic pulled back as Matthew slowly opened his eyes. His head was still spinning from his first kiss and he let his head rest against the blond’s chest for a moment.
“We should head back,” Matthew sighed, speaking more to himself than the blond holding him, “before mom wonders where we are.”
The walk back to Pinesbrooke Road was quiet for the most part. Matthew’s mind was racing as he trudged absentmindedly through the fallen leaves; partly from the kiss, but also from what was to come. Telling Dominic how he felt was scary. However, he was still afraid to reveal anything publicly. He already dreaded the thought that anything they did together would have to be done in secret. He probably would never be able to tell his family.It would devastate his father and jeopardize his position in the church.
Dominic looked over and could see how Matthew’s brilliant blue eyes were clouded with worry. He wrapped his arm around his waist and brought Matthew close.
“I know what you’re thinking…” he said softly. “It will be okay. You don’t have to declare anything to anyone just yet. You have me here and I will do my best to show you that things will be alright. For right now, let’s just...enjoy this and our time together. This really is a gorgeous path.”
Matthew smiled, wrapping his arm around Dominic and keeping his head on his shoulder until they reached the fence bordering the road.
Thanksgiving dinner was a masterpiece. Elise and Marie had done an excellent job and Hannah was slightly stuffed from all the tasting she had indulged in. Everyone took turns praying for the food and saying what they were thankful for. Throughout the entire meal, Dominic held Matthew’s left hand underneath the table as they ate and joined in conversation with everyone. Second and third helpings were had and dessert left everyone pleasantly full.
When goodbyes were said that evening between the two families, the boys shared a hug that was much longer than normal. No one questioned it and Matthew stole a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling away from the blond. Dominic gave him a quick wink and moved on to shake Pastor and Mrs. Bellamy’s hands, thanking them for a wonderful meal for their first Thanksgiving.
The cleanup did not take long at all and Elise felt accomplished after another successful Thanksgiving dinner. No one quite knew how she managed to cook so much food in such a short amount of time, but it was her talent and she enjoyed it every year. Matthew did the dishes, Jack organized the dining room and china cabinet, and Elise stored the food away for leftovers that weekend. The idea of turkey sandwiches for the next few days already had the Bellamys excited for tomorrow.
When the last of the dishes were finished, the brunet wished his parents goodnight and got ready for bed. He kept daydreaming in the shower, almost using up the hot water, his head in the clouds. Once settled under his duvet, Matthew smiled up at the solar system above him, wondering what it would be like for Dominic to fall asleep watching the ceiling with him. He was sure that it would happen sooner rather than later.
Author: chibichi15
Beta: clarinettemuse
Pairing: Belldom
Rating: PG
Warning: None
Summary: Matthew is the pastor’s son in a small church. He’s about to experience a lot of change when a certain blond moves to town.
Disclaimer: All that I own is the idea. I do not own Muse and this never happened. Both would be nice though.
Feedback: Would be lovely and is much appreciated
A/N: A super, special thankyou to clarinettemuse. You were such a huge help with this chapter and I can’t thank you enough, bb.
Thank you for all of your comments. They were lovely. Happy reading! <3
Elise Bellamy had opened her home to the Howards to join them for their first American Thanksgiving. Despite the fact that no immediate family would visit, she always made an enormous spread for dinner. So, the Howards arrived at 11:30 that Thursday morning for brunch before the cooking olympics began. Marie Howard offered to help, not quite sure what to expect. Hannah kept herself entertained by watching Mrs. Bellamy and her mother cook things she had never seen before, but was excited to try. She was given the title of official taste tester and was ready to try all the dishes before anyone else.
Jack and John moved to recline in the den downstairs to watch the annual Thanksgiving football game. It had taken the assistant pastor barely any time to understand the rules of the American sport and the two men had already discussed potential hopefuls for the upcoming SuperBowl in February.
Matthew and Dominic sat across from each other at the dining room table letting their brunch settle a bit.
“Is this gonna be a day full of eating?” Dominic sighed as he slumped in his seat. “I’ve heard that Thanksgiving has a lot of food.”
Matthew grinned and looked beyond the blond’s shoulder to watch his mother in her element. “There’ll be a ton of food. I’m not even exaggerating. A literal ton. Pace yourself and you’ll evade the Tryptophan Coma.”
“Tryptophan Coma. Oh, my god,” Dominic giggled. Matthew stiffened a bit and the blond covered his mouth to try and stifle his laugh, wincing a bit when he realized what he had said. “Sorry.”
“S’fine.” The brunet looked out the window and ran his hand through his hair. He needed a haircut badly before his parents started to get oh him for it. “Want to go for a walk?” he suggested.
Dominic raised an eyebrow and leaned forward to whisper. “I think you know the answer to that.” Matthew grinned and rolled his eyes and pushed back from the table. The boys grabbed their coats from the rack and made their way to the door.
“Going for a walk, mom!” the brunet called out. Elise poked her head around the kitchen doorway. “We’ll be back in time for dinner.”
She blew each of the boys a kiss before waving them off and shifting back to the kitchen.
Brookside, Connecticut during Autumn was absolutely stunning. Each of the trees that lined the streets, mountaintops, and valleys gave off deep and vibrant yellows, oranges, purples, and reds. Normally by the time Thanksgiving rolled around, most of the trees would be bare in preparation for winter. However, the hued leaves were still hanging on and displaying their colors until the last possible moment.
The boys walked close together as the brisk wind would occasionally slip around and between them. At the end of Pinesbrooke Road was a faded white wooden fence. It looked like it had seen better days and Dominic watched as Matthew easily jumped it. The road appeared to be unused by anyone and was covered in leaves from earlier in the season. Dominic let his feet hit the ground on the other side of the fence and looked up at the canopy of thick branches. The sun was completely blocked out, giving the path before them a dark orange hue. He finally let his gaze fall on the brunet ahead of him before he jogged to catch up.
“This is my favorite hidden gem,” Matthew said after walking silently for a few minutes. “And when the leaves change like this, it just looks really cool. Like an endless sea of orange and yellow.”
“Do you come here to think and such?”
“Sometimes, yeah,” he answered, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It’s just a nice, quiet place. No one really comes out this way. So, it kinda feels like I have it to myself most days.”
They walked for another two miles before they reached a fork in the path. The one to the left led up a steep incline while the other made a gentle slope downward. Matthew stopped for a moment before choosing the path to the right. The road twisted and curved the deeper they went as they trudged through more leaves. After another fifteen minutes, Dominic could hear the soft sound of running water. The path led to the lip of a small, shallow brook. Small stones created a natural path from one end to the other that guided the way to a small indwelling on the other side.
Matthew stepped onto the first stone and held his balance as he turned back to grin at the blond. “We’re gonna go in there,” he said, pointing to the tiny cave.
Dominic nodded and followed. Each rock was slick from the wet moss on the tops, but Matthew moved without any trouble, gaining speed until he spun off the last stone and landed on the other side. The blond moved with less finesse, his feet slipping around and sometimes splashing into the brook. Once across, he laughed and shook off his shoes before the two of them went inside the opening. A small rock ledge made the perfect bench and they hoisted themselves up. The cave amplified the sounds of the brook and the birds chirping in the trees around them. The brunet sat cross-legged and leaned his back against the wall to face the blond.
“Do you like it?” he asked quietly. “I’ve never really brought anyone here before.”
“I must be pretty special, then,” Dominic said warmly. Matthew smiled and looked down in his lap as he nodded. “I love it. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Matthew closed his eyes, his annoying habit of chewing his lip and fidgeting with his hands coming back. It was obvious that he was nervous about something, and Dominic’s eyebrows knit together as he moved to settle between Matthew and the rock wall.
“Matt, what’s on your mind?” he asked softly, peering down to look up at his face. The brunet opened his eyes, feeling his friend’s face close to his. He sat back and Dominic leaned back against the wall, waiting for what needed to be said.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you something...for a while now,” he whispered before closing his eyes. “But I’m nervous.”
“You can tell me, Matt.”
Matthew sighed and turned, his gaze fell on Dominic’s, his deep blues locking with the blond’s gentle slate stare. Somehow in the short amount of time the two boys had known each other, those steely greys provided him all the confidence he needed. Dominic had managed to become his comfort, his reassurance in himself, and as the blond gave him a gentle nod, urging the smaller boy to continue, Matthew took a deep breath and finally spoke.
“I guess I’m nervous because of you. It’s not anything you’ve done. I’m just...really confused. You’re a great friend and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you.” He scratched the back of his neck, but continued on. “I’m also really attracted to you. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was struggling with my feelings and felt like it was wrong. Like I’m not supposed to be attracted to another man. I mean, they tell us enough times at church that it’s wrong, but I don’t want these feelings to go away. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable and I’d understand if you aren’t interested in me. I’m awkward and kind of a nerd and I’m not attractive and I don’t--”
Matthew’s breath caught in the middle of his throat as Dominic held his face in his hands. He leaned in, letting his forehead rest on the brunet’s as he smiled, blushing softly. “Sorry. You were starting to ramble and say things that weren’t true.”
Matthew let out a shaky breath and laughed quietly. “It’s kinda true…”
“I don’t think it is.” Dominic’s smile grew as his hands slid up to run through Matthew’s hair. “I think you’re attractive and I am attracted to you. I think it’s okay that you’re attracted to me. I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. You can’t help who you are attracted to.”
In that moment, Matthew’s bright blue eyes blinked uncontrollably as the boy in front of him continued to grin and hold him close. His mind was still processing the words that came from the blond’s lips. There was still shock, but there was no denying that he had just said the feeling was mutual. He closed his eyes and felt relief wash over him. Not at the fact that Dominic felt the same, but in the reassurance that Dominic understood exactly how he felt. And that it wasn’t wrong.
He was slightly startled when he felt his thumb wipe away a tear from his cheek he did not even realize had fallen.
“May I kiss you?” Dominic asked quietly. Matthew felt his heart swell as warmth spread throughout his body at the gentle query.
“Please.”
There were no sparks or fireworks. There was no wild passion. That would be for later. This kiss was innocent and gentle; the start of something new for the both of them. Matthew held onto the ends of Dominic’s coat, pulling him closer as the blond held his face and let his lips move slowly against the smaller boy’s. As quickly as it started, it was over. Dominic pulled back as Matthew slowly opened his eyes. His head was still spinning from his first kiss and he let his head rest against the blond’s chest for a moment.
“We should head back,” Matthew sighed, speaking more to himself than the blond holding him, “before mom wonders where we are.”
The walk back to Pinesbrooke Road was quiet for the most part. Matthew’s mind was racing as he trudged absentmindedly through the fallen leaves; partly from the kiss, but also from what was to come. Telling Dominic how he felt was scary. However, he was still afraid to reveal anything publicly. He already dreaded the thought that anything they did together would have to be done in secret. He probably would never be able to tell his family.It would devastate his father and jeopardize his position in the church.
Dominic looked over and could see how Matthew’s brilliant blue eyes were clouded with worry. He wrapped his arm around his waist and brought Matthew close.
“I know what you’re thinking…” he said softly. “It will be okay. You don’t have to declare anything to anyone just yet. You have me here and I will do my best to show you that things will be alright. For right now, let’s just...enjoy this and our time together. This really is a gorgeous path.”
Matthew smiled, wrapping his arm around Dominic and keeping his head on his shoulder until they reached the fence bordering the road.
Thanksgiving dinner was a masterpiece. Elise and Marie had done an excellent job and Hannah was slightly stuffed from all the tasting she had indulged in. Everyone took turns praying for the food and saying what they were thankful for. Throughout the entire meal, Dominic held Matthew’s left hand underneath the table as they ate and joined in conversation with everyone. Second and third helpings were had and dessert left everyone pleasantly full.
When goodbyes were said that evening between the two families, the boys shared a hug that was much longer than normal. No one questioned it and Matthew stole a quick kiss on the cheek before pulling away from the blond. Dominic gave him a quick wink and moved on to shake Pastor and Mrs. Bellamy’s hands, thanking them for a wonderful meal for their first Thanksgiving.
The cleanup did not take long at all and Elise felt accomplished after another successful Thanksgiving dinner. No one quite knew how she managed to cook so much food in such a short amount of time, but it was her talent and she enjoyed it every year. Matthew did the dishes, Jack organized the dining room and china cabinet, and Elise stored the food away for leftovers that weekend. The idea of turkey sandwiches for the next few days already had the Bellamys excited for tomorrow.
When the last of the dishes were finished, the brunet wished his parents goodnight and got ready for bed. He kept daydreaming in the shower, almost using up the hot water, his head in the clouds. Once settled under his duvet, Matthew smiled up at the solar system above him, wondering what it would be like for Dominic to fall asleep watching the ceiling with him. He was sure that it would happen sooner rather than later.