The Fire Down Below (Part 39)
Title: The Fire Down Below (Part 39/?)
Authors: wrestlemanix and eric_idle_rules
Pairings: Ted DiBiase Jr./Cody Runnels, John Cena/Randy Orton, Justin Gabriel/Wade Barrett, Evan Bourne/Chris Jericho, Joe Hennig/Windham Rotunda, Joe Hennig/Heath Slater
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Takes place at an English all boys boarding school during the Victorian Era in which prefects roam the halls and rugby and cricket are the sports of choice.
Word Count: 8140
A/N: While I don't know much about the Victorian Era, I do know that while everyone kept up appearances to the world, behind closed doors, it was a whole other story... Please review! We finally have a title, guys! A very fitting one considering the subject matter ;)
Disclaimer: Neither of us own the WWE.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31, Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38
“I still don’t see her taking such a suggestion well,” Evan sighed.
Chris had fallen silent however, and for a while no one noticed. Something Randy had said had resonated with him.
Though he was living in the area with family for his studies, Chris’ own family was still in Canada… and one day they would be expecting him to return. And to return meant that it was more than likely that he would never see Evan again. His stomach plummeted thinking it.
As Evan and Randy argued a little ahead of them, John noticed that Chris suddenly seemed peaky, “Are you alright?” he enquired, receiving a stiff nod in return. John tilted his head.
“You got some secret fiancée you forgot to mention?” he quipped jokingly.
“Not quite…” Chris murmured. He had been so consumed by everything he had forgotten that when graduation came to pass he was expected to return home. God… he couldn’t do that.
“Not quite? So, what? Some other lover somewhere?” John asked, but then noticed that his teasing wasn’t working. “Hey, what is it?”
“It’s nothing,” Chris answered.
“Doesn’t look like nothing,” John said to him. “I’m a very good listener, I’ll have you know.”
Chris shook his head. “No I… it’s ok, really. Nothing there to talk about.”
“I’ll also have you know that I’m very good at reading people and knowing when they’re lying. So if you’re ever ready to talk about what’s going on up there,” he said, pointing at Chris’ head, “I’ll be here.”
“Thank you, but really, I’m fine.” Maybe he could convince his family that he wanted to go to some university out here. He was already looking into some. Tell them that, since he was already here, he may as well finish out his education here. Plus, how many people in Canada could say that they studied at Oxford or Cambridge?
John quirked a brow. “If you say so.”
“Something up?” Randy paused, a hand tucked with nonchalant roguishness into the pocket of his blazer, noticing they had fallen behind.
“Nope,” John said, smiling at him.
The Head Boy’s brow arched but then he shrugged and nodded, “Come on then, get a move on.”
“I resent that,” John said, though he moved to get level with Randy again.
Chris still had a thoughtful expression as Evan moved to his side, placing a hand on Chris’ arm in an innocent gesture but the gentle squeeze that accompanied the motion could only be construed as affectionate.
“Are you alright, Chris? Really?” he asked.
Knowing that then was neither the time nor the place to be discussing what was on his mind (not that he had any idea how he was going to break it to Evan when it was) Chris merely smiled, wanting to reassure Evan, “It’s nothing Ev, don’t worry about it.” He placed a hand on the small of Evan’s back and steered him ahead of him into the next classroom.
“You sure?” Evan asked, just like John had.
Chris smiled again, hoping it came off as natural. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s nothing, I swear.” He took his seat and Evan sat next to him.
“You’re sure you’re sure? Because it really-”
“Evan,” Chris said, cutting him off, “I’m sure.”
“We can always talk after class,” Evan suggested.
Sighing, Chris didn’t know if there was any way that he could get out of this. “If you’d like to talk, then we can talk,” he agreed. He didn’t want to weigh Evan down with his worries, though. But they’d only just begun together and he didn’t want to have to leave him so soon.
“Ok…” Evan bit his lip slightly before looking away.
Though it was obvious to even he that Chris had something weighing on his mind he couldn’t help feel pushy when he wanted to help.
Recognising the expression Chris pressed his thigh against Evan’s under the table.
The ravenette looked up and flashed a quick smile.
Across the room from them John and Randy were engaging in a game of some description until the teacher walked in wherein everyone stood as usual until they were told to be seated. Even as they sat back down Chris didn’t move his thigh away from the other’s, keeping it there.
He knew he owed it to Evan to tell him, he just didn’t know how to.
As the bell rang and class began, Chris made sure to not move his leg away at all. He suddenly needed all the contact with Evan that he could get, and this was the most he could get away with in public.
It wasn’t that Chris wasn’t affectionate, because he certainly was, but Evan knew something was up when Chris wouldn’t move his thigh away from his own.
When the teacher had his back turned, Chris whispered, “How’s your head this morning?”
“Lots better than it was yesterday,” Evan answered. Maybe that was the reason why Chris was so touchy all of a sudden, he was worried about the hit to the head he suffered yesterday.
“That’s good… I am sorry about that.”
Evan was about to tell him that he had made a stupid move when the teacher, still talking, turned back around to face the class.
A quick movement meant that Evan was appropriately placed away from Chris (that which of his body could be seen anyway) and focused on the front. Eventually he forced Chris’ behaviour out of mind to focus.
It was difficult to care much about academics when he knew that there was something wrong with his lover. He didn’t know how John and Randy could be so causal when needed.
Tapping his pen against his book Chris meanwhile had no such reservations on concentration.
He was watching the expressions that flittered across Evan’s face when the teacher eventually placed them on some work that they had to complete; it was entertaining indeed to see.
And he didn’t even realise he did it.
In that single instance the ache in his chest came out of nowhere so suddenly that Chris almost doubled over the table to combat it.
Chris knew that he had to wait until the end of class to fulfill the ache for Evan that now filled him. And he also knew that Evan wouldn’t be satisfied until he came clean with everything on his mind.
The other man always seemed to know when he was holding back something from him. And this was a rather serious matter.
Really, Chris hadn’t intended to fall for anyone during his time in England. He knew from the start that he wouldn’t be here long and that any sort of relationship would only end with him leaving. Fooling around with someone was no big deal as there were no emotions. But he wasn’t fooling around with Evan… he had come to fall in love with Evan.
As he did his work, he thought of the best way to tell him. Was there any other way to tell him aside from being completely blunt and upfront about it? Chris scratched at his head a bit, just behind his ear, something he always did when he was thinking hard about something or another.
The habit was one that Evan was familiar with and it further fanned his fire of belief that there was something on Chris’ mind. He knew he shouldn’t have been getting as wound up over it as he was but he couldn’t stop it.
Once or twice he had to correct Chris from making rather simple mistakes in his work--- proof his mind was elsewhere. Chris was grateful for the pointing-out.
When the bell went he packed his things away with quick, uneasy hands, standing behind his chair and waiting for Evan to finish packing. Before the other could query him as to his state of being again Chris murmured lowly, “Can we go back to our room?” this wasn’t a situation where he wanted any chance of someone potentially interrupting them.
“Alright…” Evan said, swearing that Chris reached for his hand momentarily before he forced himself to halt in the action as they were in public. Giving his cousin and John a small wave Evan pushed into the crowd pouring out of the door to catch up with his agitated Canadian. He really, really hoped that it was nothing serious.
~~~
“Maybe a little,” Ted finally conceded, seeming embarrassed as he did though.
“There’s nothing wrong with being jealous,” Justin assured, “As long as you don’t let the jealousy rule your mind.”
Ted was uncomfortably aware all of a sudden that a good deal of his and Cody’s arguments were stemmed from when the green-eyed monster took over. He made a mental note in future to try to ease off on his emotions.
“Do you ever get jealous over…?” he trailed off.
Nodding without shame Justin responded, “Of course I do. Not so much over who he has been with before me, but more so over those who still want him now. I know he’s not interested, but…”
There wasn’t anything he could do to defend his relationship with Wade; it wasn’t as though they could ever become open with it.
“That’s why I know I need to just trust in him, and in myself,” he added.
“Trust that… he won’t be with anyone else?” Ted asked.
“Yes. And trust that his feelings for me are as they say they are. Which I don’t doubt in the least,” Justin answered.
“I want to trust that he won’t fall for anyone else because I know that would just kill me. I’ve loved him for so long now…”
“And I already told you that he feels the exact same way. He’s not going to fall for anyone else.”
Ted gave a little sigh and set his pen down, cracking a knuckle and drawing looks from the people that were sitting somewhat close to them. “Sorry,” he then muttered before picking his pen back up. “I know. Do you think I give into him too easily?” he asked.
“Ted, you’re such a softie when it comes to him,” Justin answered. “Why?”
“Well… I mean the whole sleeping with him thing…”
“Wait, do you regret…?” he trailed off, raising a brow at Ted.
“No. I mean, I wanted to… but I guess I still didn’t want it to be this soon. You know how emotional Cody is… this just seemed to have intensified it, or something of the sort,” Ted explained, worrying his lower lip.
“I don’t quite understand,” Justin admitted, brow furrowing.
Exhaling a soft breath Ted shook his head, running a hand through his neat blonde locks and giving them a fetching appearance of dishevelment.
“It seems that since Cody and I have become intimate,” Ted enunciated, causing Justin to roll his eyes a little bit, “He seems to have become more and more emotionally inclined.” And Ted didn’t think that that just counted when it was a situation involving him.
“I hate to point out an obvious point to you, Teddy,” Justin said absently, “But sex creates emotional attachments between two people who mean something to one another.”
And yet again Ted found himself questioning just why he still struggled to see sex as an event two people could share casually.
“I know, but it just… if I had held firm, would he be better than he is now?”
“I’m afraid that only one person knows the answer to that.”
And they both knew that Cody wasn’t about to answer such a question.
“You must admit you don’t have to deal with as much stress as our situation can give me,” Ted said lightly, not intending to sound critical of his relationship with Cody or that he believed that Justin took his for granted.
“Yes, I’ll admit to that,” Justin said with a grin. There was yet another thing he truly enjoyed about being with a grown man; he didn’t have to deal with all the teenaged emotions. And Cody was certainly the drama queen.
The bell suddenly rang and interrupted their conversation. “Oh, well… that went by rather quickly,” Ted mused as he began packing up his things.
“It did, didn’t it?” Justin agreed. Although they were spending their class time talking, which was far more enjoyable than simply doing math, which they imagined helped to speed up the clock a little.
They stood up and filed out the door. “I’ll see you later,” Ted said as he turned down the hall to head to his economics class with Mr. Rotunda.
“Meet up with you for lunch?” Justin asked as he paused briefly, but he had already started heading towards his own next class.
“Sounds good!” Ted replied and with that they had all gone their separate ways.
Ted’s mind was well and truly away with the clouds as he wandered to his next class, unable to get his conversation with Justin about Cody out of his mind. Not that it was unusual for him to have Cody on his brain daily.
“You keep going like that and someone’s likely to bump into you,” spoke a voice by his side and Ted turned his head, arching a brow at the brunette.
“Mizanin,” he said dryly, not overly fond of Mike but more treating him with a colder shoulder because the other was always so close to Cody in his acting, and also out of loyalty to Cody who didn’t like him much.
The other smiled at him, but it wasn’t a genial, greeting smile. It was slyer, knowing.
“I heard Cody’s ruined some of his costume,” Mike said as they reached the class they shared together, Ted spotting Cody in his seat already inside.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?” before the shocked Ted could collar him for an explanation Mike ducked inside.
Fucking hell!
Once he sat next to Cody, he whispered, “Mike just said the strangest thing to me.”
Cody turned his head and raised a brow. “Oh?”
“He said he heard you ruined some of your costume and asked if I knew anything about it,” Ted told him.
“Oh?” Cody repeated, eyes going wide. He turned to look at Mike, who smirked at him.
“Yeah… Cody… what if he was the one that…?” he trailed off, unable to even say it out loud.
“What if?” Cody said, knowing full well that there was no if. He had no idea what Mike was planning on doing with the information, and he had no idea how Ted would react to learning this bit of information.
“Then I’ll fucking kill him,” the words were whispered but the look on Ted’s face and in his eyes (not to mention his choice of words) both put Cody on alert, and, well, they turned him on a bit as well. He wouldn’t lie.
“Teddy!” he whispered back, keeping an eye on the teacher, “You couldn’t do that!”
The athlete narrowed his eyes dangerously, “Watch me.”
He had already established that he was a jealous creature, but he was a private one, and if Mike had intruded on that…
Mike’s smirk slipped somewhat and he was quick to look away when Ted looked at him.
Cody hesitated; Ted seemed genuinely mad. Maybe keeping mum would be the best idea here.
“Hey, we don’t know that, ok?” Cody muttered to try and calm Ted down a bit. Though he couldn’t help but wish they could duck out of the room so Ted could take out that pent up frustration on him.
“I swear to God, if I find out who it was… especially if it was him… Joe’s going to be the least of his problems.”
“And what if a certain two people find out another certain two people happened to stumble upon them?” Cody then asked, quirking his head slightly.
“That was different,” Ted said to him.
“Was it really that different?” Cody asked.
Ted didn’t really give him an answer. He just glared and was thankful when the bell rang to signal the start of class. Not that listening to their professor’s lecture was really helping him to calm down any, but it was a slight distraction.
To say Cody was mildly nervous and wholly aroused (for reasons he didn’t entirely understand) was not an understatement, and as such it took him a bit to get his mind on the lecture that was happening.
Despite Ted’s gentle nature he didn’t doubt that he would hurt Mike if he did find out that he was the one to see them.
… which begged the question of just what would happen to him if his lover found out that Cody had essentially allowed the other to watch, had kept it secret. Something told him that Ted would not handle that information well at all.
When they had to begin answering questions Ted was pressing down with his pen a little harder than usual, only relenting when Cody placed a hand on his arm.
He huffed when he realised he’d bent his nib out of shape.
Much like he’d do to Mike’s head if he was the culprit.
“Hey, calm down,” Cody whispered, his eyes pleading with him. “We don’t know who it was or how much they even saw, ok?” Cody prayed that his acting skills were still up to par, because he was lying right to his lover’s face. He knew exactly who it was and exactly how much he saw…
Ted couldn’t say anything to that. He was still worked up. “Damn pen,” he finally muttered when he knew that it was no good, and he probably needed to toss it so he didn’t risk the ink spilling onto everything if it broke even further.
Cody worked his lip nervously. He hated Mike as much as the next person, but he didn’t want to see him… without limbs. Besides, he was his male lead and knew the lines far better than anyone.
Still, he felt like maybe he should talk to someone about it. Like Justin. He was always pretty neutral and could be counted on to not spill all his secrets, since he already knew that someone had seen them. But then, it would probably be best to just keep it all to himself, even if he did feel guilty about keeping it from Ted.
Getting up Ted placed his pen into the bin at the front of the room, the teacher seeming about to ask why he was out of his seat before he realised and relented… or maybe it was the expression on his face that had the man recoiling; Ted looked a long distance away from his usual cheer.
Eventually Cody knew he would have to fess up to Justin. He didn’t like loading the other down with his secrets but he was trustworthy and if Cody wanted any hope of not slipping to Ted then he would need to tell someone beforehand.
Ted returned and delved into his bag for a new pen, loading it up with the ink-cartridges that he had rescued from his ruined pen. He’d need to buy a replacement with his pocket-money lest his father find he’d ruined one in temper--- they weren’t cheap, and though he could afford dozens Ted didn’t like to appear wasteful with his possessions.
When the bell rang Ted was obviously still wound up and Cody wondered whether he should chivvy the other to their final class before lunch or whether he should take him back to their room for a bit.
“Are you… doing ok?” Cody asked hesitantly, not wanting Ted’s wrath taken out on him.
“I’m fine,” he answered rather harshly.
“Cuz we could go and blow off some steam,” Cody then told him.
“Isn’t that what got us into trouble last time?” Ted asked before he began walking faster, leaving Cody behind in his wake on his way to their next class.
Cody’s shoulders slumped as he watched Ted walk away, knowing that trying to catch up was hopeless. “Lover’s spat?” came a voice behind him.
“Do you ever give it a rest Mizanin?” Cody asked.
“Do you ever get off Ted’s dick, Runnels?” Mike asked in return.
“I’d be grateful Ted wasn’t here to hear you say that,” Cody said, shaking his head at him.
“Oh? And why’s that?” Mike asked, smirking.
He clearly had no idea of the potential danger he could be in if Ted misunderstood--- or in this case guessed the truth. Cody arched a brow at him.
“Because if Ted finds out that it was you who saw us fucking then he’s going to take you to pieces, and he’ll make sure he takes his time and that it hurts.”
The words were so matter-of-face that Mike was momentarily startled.
“Ha, whatever you say Runnels,” he tried to laugh it off.
“Mike, I don’t like you but I’d rather not have your death on Ted’s conscience.”
~~~
Once they were in the room, Evan glad for their free period today to allow them the chance to talk, he asked, “So, what is it?” He placed his hand on Chris’ face and looked into his eyes.
“Evan… I…” he hesitated, still unsure of just what to say.
“Just tell me! What’s wrong? Are you sick? Is your family all ok? Are you ok?” Evan asked.
“Evan, I’m fine. My family’s ok, I promise… I just… it’s more… us.”
“Us? Wait, what are you trying to tell me? Are… are we done?”
“No! God, no, let me finish!” Chris said as soon as Evan asked him that. “I don’t want us to be done, not even once we graduate.”
“Why would we…” Evan started, but trailed off when he realized… Chris had to go back to Canada. He was staying in England. Once they graduated here, would they ever even see one another again?
“Oh God…” how could he have been so blind? Chris had professed that it was most likely he’d be heading back to his family in Canada once he’d graduated from the academy. How could he forget that?
Despite himself Evan felt his vision blurring and turned away.
“Oh what a fool I’ve been… of course, what other option is there?” he covered his face with his hands, shaking his head from side to side.
Immediately he felt Chris’ strong chest at his back, those comforting arms tight around his shoulders. Chris’ face pressed into the crook of Evan’s neck, “I don’t want to leave you,” he said, voice shaking with emotion.
“B-But you’ll have to,” he wouldn’t cry, Evan told himself firmly, men did not cry like girls.
“No,” Chris’ voice was firm, holding Evan tighter, “Evan, I love you too much to let go.”
He’d defy his whole family if he had to, to keep Evan at his side.
“Chris… I… while I admire the sentiment… I can’t let you do that… you can’t just… give up your family, your future, to be with me,” Evan said, though he was still trying to hold back his sobs. He really didn’t want Chris to leave him. He never wanted to give him his heart, but now he finally accepted that he had and he didn’t want to lose it.
“You’re worth it,” Chris told him. “Look, I can convince my family that I want to stay here for Uni, and we can go to the same school together. And then once we graduate, I’ll tell them that I just love it here.”
“What if they find out that you’re only here because of me?” Evan asked.
“You’ve become my best friend here! They’ll think that we’ve become attached as friends, not as anything more.”
“So… you’re really going to try and attend University over here?”
“I’m certainly going to try. I don’t really see what my family would have against it. There are far more prestigious schools here than there are in Canada, and I can’t imagine anyone would have a problem with that.”
“Mhm,” Evan couldn’t manage more than the non-verbal utterance, his back still to Chris and the other still holding onto him. Chris prayed that Evan believed him; whatever he had to do to make it work he would do, but he knew that he would never be able to leave Evan behind. He could see his family anytime, if he left Evan… he couldn’t do that.
“Evan-“ the ravenette turned his head enough to acknowledge that Chris was speaking to him and he felt the sensation of one of Chris’ hands sliding into his hair before he found smooth, firm lips pressed against his own.
The action was the catalyst to release his tears, but Evan didn’t pull away.
This time he needed the kiss as badly as Chris did, twisting his position round so that they were facing properly.
Chris could taste the saltiness of Evan’s tears on his lips and vowed that never again would Evan shed a tear of unhappiness over him. Chris wouldn’t allow that to happen as much as his power would allow for prevention.
“Evan, my sweet, sweet, angel…” Chris murmured, lowering Evan to the bed and covering the smaller body with his own, still kissing.
Chris’ hands were on Evan’s face, cupping his cheeks; he could feel the streaks of Evan’s tears on his palms and brushed them away with his thumbs.
“Are you going to make love to me?” Evan whispered, his own hands cupping Chris’ face.
“Is that what you want?” Chris asked, thumbs still rubbing over Evan’s cheeks lightly.
Evan leaned up, closing the space between them once more as their lips met in another kiss. Then his hands moved lower, down Chris’ neck and then to his tie, which he began to loosen.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Chris breathed out as Evan worked on his tie.
This time Evan nodded. “Please,” he added.
“As long as we’re done in time for lunch,” Chris said.
Evan tried to scowl, but ended up grinning instead, and he gently hit Chris’ shoulder.
Smiling softly himself Chris allowed Evan to remove his tie and shrugged out of his shirt once the buttons had been undone, then divesting Evan of his own.
All the while they were kissing and caressing, neither rushing despite their pointed time limits.
Once they were both naked Evan suddenly moved, resting himself on the bed on all fours.
To say that surprised Chris wouldn’t be an understatement, “Ev-“ he wasn’t protesting the position even though they’d never done it before, but circumstantially… “Please?” he whispered.
And how could Chris refuse? Reaching into the side drawer he moved behind his lover.
Slicking three of his fingers he gently pressed one inside of Evan’s entrance.
Still so tight, Chris thought, kissing Evan’s neck.
Shivering with sensation Evan parted his legs some more as he felt a second finger.
Evan let out a little whimper once both fingers were inside him completely. Things all felt so different in this change in position from what they were used to. It still felt good, though.
With his free hand, Chris ran his fingers over Evan’s tight ass, seeing the appeal to doing it like this. While he couldn’t see Evan’s face, he could explore so much of Evan’s body that he really hadn’t had the chance to explore before.
Sucking in a breath as Chris hit his prostate, Evan crossed his arms over a pillow and let his head fall forward onto his arms, ass going up even further in the air. “Can you… now?” he asked, voice muffled.
“Now? Are you sure?” Chris asked in return, drawing his fingers out, twisting them as he did so, before pushing in once again.
“I need you,” Evan said. “Please, Chris.”
Nodding, then remembering that Evan couldn’t see him, he said, “Ok.” He reached back for the lubricant, which he slicked onto himself quickly before positioning himself behind Evan. He pushed his hips forward, entering his lover’s tight body. Once he was fully seated, both he and Evan swore that he was even deeper inside of him than ever before.
“Ohh~~” Evan shivered as the soft moan left him, feeling Chris’ hands alighting his hips even as his chest pressed into Evan’s back. He reveled in the slightly larger body caging his own.
“Evan,” Chris rumbled lowly, kissing the back and sides of Evan’s neck, even nibbling at his ear as he gave him a moment or two to adjust. And then, slowly, he pulled out before pushing himself back in, head tipping at the sensation.
When Evan realised one of Chris’ hands had planted down onto the bed Evan reached and twined his fingers through the Canadian’s, causing Chris to lift his head from the nape of Evan’s neck to look.
“I love you,” the murmured words felt slightly awkward since Evan couldn’t see Chris’ face but he knew that the other heard him.
“And I love you, Evan, more than anything.”
Turning his head awkwardly Evan managed to catch Chris’ eyes and the blonde immediately knew what he wanted. Leaning down he pressed their lips together, tongues and saliva making the kisses messy and slow, all the while Chris’ hips continued to move, the soft slapping sound of his hips against Evan’s backside beginning to echo in their room.
Evan’s neck didn’t particularly enjoy being bent around backwards as such, but the rest of him didn’t care. He had Chris’ tongue in his mouth and Chris’ dick up his ass and he felt so good.
Chris continued his thrusts, the sound of skin on skin remaining at a steady pace. “I love you so much,” he said once more. God, he couldn’t get enough of saying those words. He’d fallen in love with telling Evan he loved him.
Smiling, Evan returned with, “I love you, too.” His mouth then fell open as a low moan made its way out when Chris brushed that spot inside him. “Oh, god.”
Chris kissed Evan’s cheek, then kissed his way up until his lips were pressed to the back of Evan’s neck. He peppered small kisses all along his neck and shoulders, thrusting all the while. He knew he was getting closer. Evan’s tight ass always drove him to the edge.
“Touch me?” Evan asked. His own cock was still hard and leaking and just begging for contact, and his own hand couldn’t compare to Chris’.
Nodding, Chris let one of his hands run down Evan’s side and over his hip slowly before going back around to his groin, Evan making a soft sound at the firm, ever-so-slightly calloused touch of Chris’.
Their rhythm was still slow, thorough, and Evan could feel each rigid inch of Chris as he pressed into him. Each contact of the swollen head of Chris’ cock against his prostate had him shuddering lightly in pleasure, groaning.
The way Evan tightened around him as he stroked him had Chris becoming a little more vocal in himself, feeling his balls beginning to tighten before too long.
It was in a rather fitting tandem that they came, Evan coating Chris’ hand and Chris coating Evan’s insides, some of his seed seeping from his lover’s entrance even before he’d fully left him. The Canadian immediately drew Evan into his arms as he lay himself down.
Pressing gentle kisses over Evan’s flushed cheeks and his nose before alighting his lips Chris murmured, “Say you’ll stay mine Evan, please,” he murmured.
“Yes, Chris,” Evan replied. “I’m yours.”
“Even if I have to go back to Canada?” Chris asked, hoping that wouldn’t be the case.
“Forever,” Evan said. “I love you so much, too much to give up.”
“I’m going to stay over here for University,” Chris said authoritatively. He needed to stay out here. If he didn’t, he risked losing Evan. They were still both so young, if they separated after this, there was every chance that, despite what was just said, Evan would get another lover. He couldn’t stand that happening. He wanted to be Evan’s one and only, just as Evan was his.
“Are you sure you want to do that? What about your family?” Evan asked.
“I’m sure that I want to be with you. I can visit my family, and they can visit me. But I want to stay with you.”
“Chris…” Evan pressed his face into the crook of Chris’ neck, hiding that he had been struck by the urge to well up again.
Chris gently carded his fingers through Evan’s hair.
“I really mean it Evan,” he said softly, not wanting to frighten the other with his commitment.
When Evan pulled back to look him in the eye again Chris elaborated.
“For me… you’re it. Even if one day I have to marry, you are the only true one for me.” He lifted one of Evan’s hands and placed it over his naked torso where his heart was still beating a little erratically, “My heart belongs only to you.” The ravenette’s eyes closed momentarily and Chris wondered whether he’d said too much, come on too strong. A moment and Evan’s eyes then opened again.
“And mine only belongs to you, Chris,” he assured softly, nodding his head.
“Good. Because I don’t think I could stand it belonging to anyone else,” Chris told him.
“I don’t think I ever could give it to anyone else. Not after being with you like this,” Evan said. “I never thought that I’d be giving my heart to someone while I was so young. Especially since losing my parents.”
Chris tilted his head a little. That was one thing that Evan didn’t talk about a whole lot. He knew a little about their deaths, and how he was raised by his aunt and uncle, but that was about all he knew. “How do you mean?” he asked, not wanting to sound rude, just curious.
“I mean… I was really young when I lost them, and though they were strict about things and very religious, they were my parents and I loved them. Then they were taken from me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Auntie and Uncle and Randy and his siblings, but they’re not my parents… Anyway, what I’m trying to say is… I was young when I had two people I loved more than anything taken away from me and I didn’t know if I’d ever love anyone as unconditionally again.” Evan paused, taking a deep breath before saying, “Then I found you.”
“Oh, Evan,” Chris whispered, pulling Evan’s smaller frame into his own embrace.
Evan held the blonde back, pleased that his words had been understood in the context.
“I’ll always be here, Evan,” Chris murmured gently into his ear, “Nothing’s ever going to take me away from you.” And he was going to everything humanly possible to keep that promise. “And even if we are separated physically at one time I’ll always be here,” he touched his heart.
It had taken a lot for Evan to make his confession and Chris appreciated it probably more than Evan would ever know. Gently tilting his lover’s chin up he kissed him, slowly and sweetly, conveying what he couldn’t say in words.
When they pulled apart they smiled at one another, Evan giving a silent nod of acknowledgement.
He didn’t doubt that Chris believed his words were true, but he had learnt from a young age that Death and Circumstances were two things that no one could combat against no matter how hard they tried… one day something might happen to separate them and when that happened he knew he’d be devastated for the rest of his days. “Did you say that you wanted to go for lunch?” Evan sat up enough to look at the clock that they had on the mantle of the little ornate fireplace in their room, “We should be getting a move on then.”
~~~
“Why doesn’t anyone seem to like me?” Mike asked.
“Because you’re an arrogant know it all prick?” Cody suggested.
Mike shrugged slightly. He really couldn’t argue with that. “Really, though, DiBiase doesn’t have it in him to hurt a fly.”
“He owns four rifles and three pistols and his family has five hunting dogs. He’s been getting a new gun for his birthday since he turned ten. They have a room in their house dedicated to their kills and the biggest buck on the wall belongs to Ted from when he was on a hunt when he was thirteen,” Cody told him, raising a brow challengingly. “Don’t be so sure he wouldn’t rip you limb from limb.”
“Is that a threat, Runnels?” Mike asked.
“Is it, Mizanin?” Cody returned.
For a moment the pair stood facing one another, gazes challenging.
The only thing that broke their staring match was a third party’s voice.
“Save your romantic eyes for the stage, hm?”
“Romantic? Spare me Morrison.”
John Morrison was probably Mike’s only real friend in school and the pair was close. He slung an arm around Mike’s shoulder, “Are we going then?”
Still looking at Cody, Mike nodded, glancing away only when John started to pull him. Cody stuck his tongue out childishly after both men and then exhaled a breath before turning. He supposed he’d best go and find Ted and make sure he wasn’t doing anything he’d feel bad about later… like breaking something. The ravenette made the quick trip to the common room, asking a few boys there if Ted had been that way.
When none of them said that they had seen him, Cody didn’t know whether or not to be relieved. So, he turned out of the room and was about half way to his next class when the bell rang. He smiled sheepishly at the professor when he walked in late, but sighed to himself when he saw Ted sitting at his desk. He looked pissed off, but at least he hadn’t broken anything.
The entire class, Cody tried to find some way to talk to Ted, but their professor didn’t shut up. Plus, he hounded on Cody for showing up late, calling on him to answer almost every question.
Ted just sat there, stoned face the whole time. He was hearing what the professor was saying, but he really wasn’t paying attention. He might as well have not shown up at all for all he took out of that class.
Once the bell rang, Cody was questioned out and Ted was just ready to get out of there. “Ted, wait up!” Cody said once he reached the door and saw Ted’s back up ahead of him. He wasn’t letting Ted get away this time.
“What?” Ted snapped. “I’m hungry and I’m not in the mood.”
“I was just trying to calm you down, Teddy. It’s not good for you to carry your anger around, you know.”
“I’m fine,” Ted all but growled at him and Cody puffed his cheeks up in annoyance before then forcing himself to calm down; letting Ted’s temper get to him would only result in a fight and he really didn’t want that to happen, not when things had finally calmed down between them again. Besides… his guilt was also forcing him to keep himself reined in for once, unusual indeed.
Lengthening his stride as best he could Cody managed to keep pace with his fuming lover, noting absently that people seemed to be ducking aside to let Ted pass, as though sensing a dark aura.
After they had eaten Cody was damn well going to drag Ted back to their room and make him calm down somehow. Sure he had a few ideas, but with the mood that Ted was in he was sure he’d be rebuffed.
Grabbing a tray Cody picked a couple of sandwiches from the selection, noting that in Ted’s preoccupied state he had bypassed dessert--- something even the dinner-lady noticed. And, as such, when Cody took a second cake she allowed it.
Taking a seat besides his lover Cody put the second cake onto Ted’s tray before waiting until he noticed it.
“Theodore, you’re being an arse, stop it,” he enunciated firmly.
“Oh, please, you get to be a damn drama queen all the time, but I can’t be in a bad mood once?” Ted snapped back.
“Excuse me?” Cody asked. “I am not a drama queen, and you have no reason to be in a bad mood right now.”
“I don’t? Mike might have seen us, Cody, and you’re telling me that I don’t have a reason to be in a bad mood?”
“What sort of battleground have I walked in on?” Justin asked as he set his tray down across the table from the two of them.
“Ted’s being an arse,” Cody told him, “just because of something Mizanin said to him.”
“It’s a little bit more than that, Cody.”
“Hey. Why do you guys keep constantly fighting one another?” Justin asked. He knew that no matter what they still loved one another and that these were just minor spats, but he didn’t want to see them fight this much at all.
“Because Cody’s not even taking any of this seriously and doesn’t care that I do!” Ted exclaimed.
“I do care!” Cody told him. “But there’s nothing we can do to stop it, so we just need to let it go. Oh, and here… I got you dessert,” he added, sliding the cake over to the blonde.
It was apparent that Ted had been caught off-guard by the change in subject because even as he geared up to snap back once more he seemed to pause, staring at the cake as though he had never seen one before and was assessing it.
Justin grinned slightly as he began to eat his own food; no matter what mood Ted was in the sweet-tooth always prevailed.
Though the following thanks he was given was still rather grudging and brusque Cody decided to just let that go.
“Really Ted,” Justin then input as Cody finished his own food and began in on his cake. He always ate it rather eccentrically:
He’d start with whatever topping there was and then cut the cake into two, devouring one half and then the other, even occasionally taking the cake apart further. Ted and Justin ate their cakes normally.
“Really what?” Ted asked as Justin had been distracted by Cody’s finicky cake eating habits momentarily. Justin recalled himself swiftly.
“Oh, I was just going to say don’t let Mizanin bother you. He knows it’ll cost him too much to run his mouth… if he even has anything to run it about.”
Ted tried not to sigh; he really got irritated when they cut his moods off like they did.
“One day saying that’ll come back to bite us in the ass.”
“Come on now, you know that Mizanin is full of shit,” Justin said across the table to him. “He’s nothing but a load of hot air.”
Cody nodded, agreeing with Justin, though he knew full well that this time Mizanin wasn’t completely full of shit. “Don’t let him get to you like that. You know he feeds of that sort of thing, getting a rise out of someone.”
“I know,” Ted huffed. He was usually a calm and collected guy, but when he got pissed off, he really got pissed off. And Mizanin was pissing him off. “But let’s say he wasn’t the one that saw us… did someone tell him? Could whoever saw us go and tell their friends, or even Barrett?”
“Well, I would say considering almost every boy in this school over the age of fourteen has played around with another boy, there’s not going to be much of a reaction,” Cody replied.
“And Wade’s not going to care… he does hear rumours, you know,” Justin told him.
“What rumours?” Ted asked.
“That you two are sleeping together. That’s been going around for about two years now,” Justin said.
“Two years?!” Ted was shocked. He had no idea that there were rumours about he and Cody together, especially going around for so long.
“You didn’t know then?” Justin nodded, “Everyone had you two paired up before any of us ever really considered what sex was.”
Ted sputtered but Cody seemed strangely unsurprised by this tidbit of information.
He had obviously heard more than Ted.
“Wait, so… Wade knows?” Ted said, feeling his cheeks beginning to flame up. Oh Lord--- how could he possibly go to Justin’s house with Cody if their host knew what they got up to? Surely they wouldn’t be allowed to stay in the same room…
“Ted, it would be hypocritical of him to care,” Justin pointed out, “I guess as long as he doesn’t catch you up to anything in our house he won’t need to even mention it. You can act freely together at our home…” the staff were not as numerous as one would expect in a sizable house and very discreet.
Ted’s head shook rapidly at that; he couldn’t act freely with Cody! Even behind the closed doors of Justin’s home; if someone were ever to catch them then they’d be in big trouble.
Cody sighed slightly and shook his head, wiping his mouth on his napkin as he finished eating his dessert.
Ted’s reaction wasn’t unexpected but with any luck some time spent around Justin and Wade in their private environment might calm him down.
“Really, Ted, he doesn’t care that you two are together,” Justin said once more to try and assure him.
“But we’re not supposed to be sleeping with one another. Any of us. And not just because we’re all males, either… as students here in general, we’re not supposed to be sleeping with anyone,” Ted told him.
“I know the rules here just as well as you do. As does Wade. And as he has told me before, he was a teenager once, too. There’s nothing to be worried about, especially when you’re staying with us.”
Ted poked at his cake and ate a few more bites. “So… people have really thought that about us for that long?” he asked, still looking a bit confused, but seemingly less upset, which was certainly a plus.
Cody nodded. “I’m shocked you never knew that about us, Teddy,” he said to him.
“Well, it’s not like people talk about rumours about me to my face,” Ted replied.
“That’s true enough… but it’s pretty common knowledge that you’re highly possessive and protective of me.”
“Just like any good friend should be!”
“I didn’t say I dislike it,” Cody pointed out, “And it’s equally common knowledge that you’re the first person I always go to for anything, and that you’re just as much my main concern,” he added after a moment.
“Basically it’s just a given that you’re slightly further than the realm of ‘just friends’,” Justin said easily.
Ted huffed a small breath and shook his head; it was a good job that neither of his brothers went to the Academy (well, Mike had already graduated and Brett had chosen a different school) otherwise that would be it.
He had no idea what his brothers might do, or say, if they were to find out about he and Cody… though Brett had made cheeky comments about their closeness before if he recalled it correctly. He was only young though so often overlooked.
“Well… you learn something new every day don’t you?” he finally lamented lightly.
Cody chuckled and shook his head slightly, Justin also gaining an expression of amusement.
“I’m looking forward to you both coming over actually,” Justin said, “And I think Wade’s quite looking forward to it too.”
“Really?” Cody asked, surprised, and Justin nodded, “He was worried I’d never asked for company before now.”
“How come you never did?” Cody asked. Justin had been over to his house a number of times, Ted’s as well.
“I don’t know. Maybe because I live with the headmaster and I guess… I always felt strange about asking people into his home,” Justin explained with a shrug.
“That makes sense,” Ted agreed with him.
“Yeah… he would sometimes ask, though, if I ever wanted to have anyone over. You know, over the holidays and whatnot. I would always say no, obviously… plus I always thought that people would have already made plans. You two would stay together, Joe and Windham would stay together…”
“Justin, if you had ever asked me over, I would have said yes in a heart beat and dragged Teddy along with me. Which shouldn’t actually surprise you considering how I had to practically beg you to invite us over,” Cody said.
“Well, I didn’t know that before,” Justin told him, cheeks slightly pink.
“Well, now you do!” Cody exclaimed.
“Now I do.”
Authors: wrestlemanix and eric_idle_rules
Pairings: Ted DiBiase Jr./Cody Runnels, John Cena/Randy Orton, Justin Gabriel/Wade Barrett, Evan Bourne/Chris Jericho, Joe Hennig/Windham Rotunda, Joe Hennig/Heath Slater
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Takes place at an English all boys boarding school during the Victorian Era in which prefects roam the halls and rugby and cricket are the sports of choice.
Word Count: 8140
A/N: While I don't know much about the Victorian Era, I do know that while everyone kept up appearances to the world, behind closed doors, it was a whole other story... Please review! We finally have a title, guys! A very fitting one considering the subject matter ;)
Disclaimer: Neither of us own the WWE.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31, Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38
“I still don’t see her taking such a suggestion well,” Evan sighed.
Chris had fallen silent however, and for a while no one noticed. Something Randy had said had resonated with him.
Though he was living in the area with family for his studies, Chris’ own family was still in Canada… and one day they would be expecting him to return. And to return meant that it was more than likely that he would never see Evan again. His stomach plummeted thinking it.
As Evan and Randy argued a little ahead of them, John noticed that Chris suddenly seemed peaky, “Are you alright?” he enquired, receiving a stiff nod in return. John tilted his head.
“You got some secret fiancée you forgot to mention?” he quipped jokingly.
“Not quite…” Chris murmured. He had been so consumed by everything he had forgotten that when graduation came to pass he was expected to return home. God… he couldn’t do that.
“Not quite? So, what? Some other lover somewhere?” John asked, but then noticed that his teasing wasn’t working. “Hey, what is it?”
“It’s nothing,” Chris answered.
“Doesn’t look like nothing,” John said to him. “I’m a very good listener, I’ll have you know.”
Chris shook his head. “No I… it’s ok, really. Nothing there to talk about.”
“I’ll also have you know that I’m very good at reading people and knowing when they’re lying. So if you’re ever ready to talk about what’s going on up there,” he said, pointing at Chris’ head, “I’ll be here.”
“Thank you, but really, I’m fine.” Maybe he could convince his family that he wanted to go to some university out here. He was already looking into some. Tell them that, since he was already here, he may as well finish out his education here. Plus, how many people in Canada could say that they studied at Oxford or Cambridge?
John quirked a brow. “If you say so.”
“Something up?” Randy paused, a hand tucked with nonchalant roguishness into the pocket of his blazer, noticing they had fallen behind.
“Nope,” John said, smiling at him.
The Head Boy’s brow arched but then he shrugged and nodded, “Come on then, get a move on.”
“I resent that,” John said, though he moved to get level with Randy again.
Chris still had a thoughtful expression as Evan moved to his side, placing a hand on Chris’ arm in an innocent gesture but the gentle squeeze that accompanied the motion could only be construed as affectionate.
“Are you alright, Chris? Really?” he asked.
Knowing that then was neither the time nor the place to be discussing what was on his mind (not that he had any idea how he was going to break it to Evan when it was) Chris merely smiled, wanting to reassure Evan, “It’s nothing Ev, don’t worry about it.” He placed a hand on the small of Evan’s back and steered him ahead of him into the next classroom.
“You sure?” Evan asked, just like John had.
Chris smiled again, hoping it came off as natural. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s nothing, I swear.” He took his seat and Evan sat next to him.
“You’re sure you’re sure? Because it really-”
“Evan,” Chris said, cutting him off, “I’m sure.”
“We can always talk after class,” Evan suggested.
Sighing, Chris didn’t know if there was any way that he could get out of this. “If you’d like to talk, then we can talk,” he agreed. He didn’t want to weigh Evan down with his worries, though. But they’d only just begun together and he didn’t want to have to leave him so soon.
“Ok…” Evan bit his lip slightly before looking away.
Though it was obvious to even he that Chris had something weighing on his mind he couldn’t help feel pushy when he wanted to help.
Recognising the expression Chris pressed his thigh against Evan’s under the table.
The ravenette looked up and flashed a quick smile.
Across the room from them John and Randy were engaging in a game of some description until the teacher walked in wherein everyone stood as usual until they were told to be seated. Even as they sat back down Chris didn’t move his thigh away from the other’s, keeping it there.
He knew he owed it to Evan to tell him, he just didn’t know how to.
As the bell rang and class began, Chris made sure to not move his leg away at all. He suddenly needed all the contact with Evan that he could get, and this was the most he could get away with in public.
It wasn’t that Chris wasn’t affectionate, because he certainly was, but Evan knew something was up when Chris wouldn’t move his thigh away from his own.
When the teacher had his back turned, Chris whispered, “How’s your head this morning?”
“Lots better than it was yesterday,” Evan answered. Maybe that was the reason why Chris was so touchy all of a sudden, he was worried about the hit to the head he suffered yesterday.
“That’s good… I am sorry about that.”
Evan was about to tell him that he had made a stupid move when the teacher, still talking, turned back around to face the class.
A quick movement meant that Evan was appropriately placed away from Chris (that which of his body could be seen anyway) and focused on the front. Eventually he forced Chris’ behaviour out of mind to focus.
It was difficult to care much about academics when he knew that there was something wrong with his lover. He didn’t know how John and Randy could be so causal when needed.
Tapping his pen against his book Chris meanwhile had no such reservations on concentration.
He was watching the expressions that flittered across Evan’s face when the teacher eventually placed them on some work that they had to complete; it was entertaining indeed to see.
And he didn’t even realise he did it.
In that single instance the ache in his chest came out of nowhere so suddenly that Chris almost doubled over the table to combat it.
Chris knew that he had to wait until the end of class to fulfill the ache for Evan that now filled him. And he also knew that Evan wouldn’t be satisfied until he came clean with everything on his mind.
The other man always seemed to know when he was holding back something from him. And this was a rather serious matter.
Really, Chris hadn’t intended to fall for anyone during his time in England. He knew from the start that he wouldn’t be here long and that any sort of relationship would only end with him leaving. Fooling around with someone was no big deal as there were no emotions. But he wasn’t fooling around with Evan… he had come to fall in love with Evan.
As he did his work, he thought of the best way to tell him. Was there any other way to tell him aside from being completely blunt and upfront about it? Chris scratched at his head a bit, just behind his ear, something he always did when he was thinking hard about something or another.
The habit was one that Evan was familiar with and it further fanned his fire of belief that there was something on Chris’ mind. He knew he shouldn’t have been getting as wound up over it as he was but he couldn’t stop it.
Once or twice he had to correct Chris from making rather simple mistakes in his work--- proof his mind was elsewhere. Chris was grateful for the pointing-out.
When the bell went he packed his things away with quick, uneasy hands, standing behind his chair and waiting for Evan to finish packing. Before the other could query him as to his state of being again Chris murmured lowly, “Can we go back to our room?” this wasn’t a situation where he wanted any chance of someone potentially interrupting them.
“Alright…” Evan said, swearing that Chris reached for his hand momentarily before he forced himself to halt in the action as they were in public. Giving his cousin and John a small wave Evan pushed into the crowd pouring out of the door to catch up with his agitated Canadian. He really, really hoped that it was nothing serious.
~~~
“Maybe a little,” Ted finally conceded, seeming embarrassed as he did though.
“There’s nothing wrong with being jealous,” Justin assured, “As long as you don’t let the jealousy rule your mind.”
Ted was uncomfortably aware all of a sudden that a good deal of his and Cody’s arguments were stemmed from when the green-eyed monster took over. He made a mental note in future to try to ease off on his emotions.
“Do you ever get jealous over…?” he trailed off.
Nodding without shame Justin responded, “Of course I do. Not so much over who he has been with before me, but more so over those who still want him now. I know he’s not interested, but…”
There wasn’t anything he could do to defend his relationship with Wade; it wasn’t as though they could ever become open with it.
“That’s why I know I need to just trust in him, and in myself,” he added.
“Trust that… he won’t be with anyone else?” Ted asked.
“Yes. And trust that his feelings for me are as they say they are. Which I don’t doubt in the least,” Justin answered.
“I want to trust that he won’t fall for anyone else because I know that would just kill me. I’ve loved him for so long now…”
“And I already told you that he feels the exact same way. He’s not going to fall for anyone else.”
Ted gave a little sigh and set his pen down, cracking a knuckle and drawing looks from the people that were sitting somewhat close to them. “Sorry,” he then muttered before picking his pen back up. “I know. Do you think I give into him too easily?” he asked.
“Ted, you’re such a softie when it comes to him,” Justin answered. “Why?”
“Well… I mean the whole sleeping with him thing…”
“Wait, do you regret…?” he trailed off, raising a brow at Ted.
“No. I mean, I wanted to… but I guess I still didn’t want it to be this soon. You know how emotional Cody is… this just seemed to have intensified it, or something of the sort,” Ted explained, worrying his lower lip.
“I don’t quite understand,” Justin admitted, brow furrowing.
Exhaling a soft breath Ted shook his head, running a hand through his neat blonde locks and giving them a fetching appearance of dishevelment.
“It seems that since Cody and I have become intimate,” Ted enunciated, causing Justin to roll his eyes a little bit, “He seems to have become more and more emotionally inclined.” And Ted didn’t think that that just counted when it was a situation involving him.
“I hate to point out an obvious point to you, Teddy,” Justin said absently, “But sex creates emotional attachments between two people who mean something to one another.”
And yet again Ted found himself questioning just why he still struggled to see sex as an event two people could share casually.
“I know, but it just… if I had held firm, would he be better than he is now?”
“I’m afraid that only one person knows the answer to that.”
And they both knew that Cody wasn’t about to answer such a question.
“You must admit you don’t have to deal with as much stress as our situation can give me,” Ted said lightly, not intending to sound critical of his relationship with Cody or that he believed that Justin took his for granted.
“Yes, I’ll admit to that,” Justin said with a grin. There was yet another thing he truly enjoyed about being with a grown man; he didn’t have to deal with all the teenaged emotions. And Cody was certainly the drama queen.
The bell suddenly rang and interrupted their conversation. “Oh, well… that went by rather quickly,” Ted mused as he began packing up his things.
“It did, didn’t it?” Justin agreed. Although they were spending their class time talking, which was far more enjoyable than simply doing math, which they imagined helped to speed up the clock a little.
They stood up and filed out the door. “I’ll see you later,” Ted said as he turned down the hall to head to his economics class with Mr. Rotunda.
“Meet up with you for lunch?” Justin asked as he paused briefly, but he had already started heading towards his own next class.
“Sounds good!” Ted replied and with that they had all gone their separate ways.
Ted’s mind was well and truly away with the clouds as he wandered to his next class, unable to get his conversation with Justin about Cody out of his mind. Not that it was unusual for him to have Cody on his brain daily.
“You keep going like that and someone’s likely to bump into you,” spoke a voice by his side and Ted turned his head, arching a brow at the brunette.
“Mizanin,” he said dryly, not overly fond of Mike but more treating him with a colder shoulder because the other was always so close to Cody in his acting, and also out of loyalty to Cody who didn’t like him much.
The other smiled at him, but it wasn’t a genial, greeting smile. It was slyer, knowing.
“I heard Cody’s ruined some of his costume,” Mike said as they reached the class they shared together, Ted spotting Cody in his seat already inside.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?” before the shocked Ted could collar him for an explanation Mike ducked inside.
Fucking hell!
Once he sat next to Cody, he whispered, “Mike just said the strangest thing to me.”
Cody turned his head and raised a brow. “Oh?”
“He said he heard you ruined some of your costume and asked if I knew anything about it,” Ted told him.
“Oh?” Cody repeated, eyes going wide. He turned to look at Mike, who smirked at him.
“Yeah… Cody… what if he was the one that…?” he trailed off, unable to even say it out loud.
“What if?” Cody said, knowing full well that there was no if. He had no idea what Mike was planning on doing with the information, and he had no idea how Ted would react to learning this bit of information.
“Then I’ll fucking kill him,” the words were whispered but the look on Ted’s face and in his eyes (not to mention his choice of words) both put Cody on alert, and, well, they turned him on a bit as well. He wouldn’t lie.
“Teddy!” he whispered back, keeping an eye on the teacher, “You couldn’t do that!”
The athlete narrowed his eyes dangerously, “Watch me.”
He had already established that he was a jealous creature, but he was a private one, and if Mike had intruded on that…
Mike’s smirk slipped somewhat and he was quick to look away when Ted looked at him.
Cody hesitated; Ted seemed genuinely mad. Maybe keeping mum would be the best idea here.
“Hey, we don’t know that, ok?” Cody muttered to try and calm Ted down a bit. Though he couldn’t help but wish they could duck out of the room so Ted could take out that pent up frustration on him.
“I swear to God, if I find out who it was… especially if it was him… Joe’s going to be the least of his problems.”
“And what if a certain two people find out another certain two people happened to stumble upon them?” Cody then asked, quirking his head slightly.
“That was different,” Ted said to him.
“Was it really that different?” Cody asked.
Ted didn’t really give him an answer. He just glared and was thankful when the bell rang to signal the start of class. Not that listening to their professor’s lecture was really helping him to calm down any, but it was a slight distraction.
To say Cody was mildly nervous and wholly aroused (for reasons he didn’t entirely understand) was not an understatement, and as such it took him a bit to get his mind on the lecture that was happening.
Despite Ted’s gentle nature he didn’t doubt that he would hurt Mike if he did find out that he was the one to see them.
… which begged the question of just what would happen to him if his lover found out that Cody had essentially allowed the other to watch, had kept it secret. Something told him that Ted would not handle that information well at all.
When they had to begin answering questions Ted was pressing down with his pen a little harder than usual, only relenting when Cody placed a hand on his arm.
He huffed when he realised he’d bent his nib out of shape.
Much like he’d do to Mike’s head if he was the culprit.
“Hey, calm down,” Cody whispered, his eyes pleading with him. “We don’t know who it was or how much they even saw, ok?” Cody prayed that his acting skills were still up to par, because he was lying right to his lover’s face. He knew exactly who it was and exactly how much he saw…
Ted couldn’t say anything to that. He was still worked up. “Damn pen,” he finally muttered when he knew that it was no good, and he probably needed to toss it so he didn’t risk the ink spilling onto everything if it broke even further.
Cody worked his lip nervously. He hated Mike as much as the next person, but he didn’t want to see him… without limbs. Besides, he was his male lead and knew the lines far better than anyone.
Still, he felt like maybe he should talk to someone about it. Like Justin. He was always pretty neutral and could be counted on to not spill all his secrets, since he already knew that someone had seen them. But then, it would probably be best to just keep it all to himself, even if he did feel guilty about keeping it from Ted.
Getting up Ted placed his pen into the bin at the front of the room, the teacher seeming about to ask why he was out of his seat before he realised and relented… or maybe it was the expression on his face that had the man recoiling; Ted looked a long distance away from his usual cheer.
Eventually Cody knew he would have to fess up to Justin. He didn’t like loading the other down with his secrets but he was trustworthy and if Cody wanted any hope of not slipping to Ted then he would need to tell someone beforehand.
Ted returned and delved into his bag for a new pen, loading it up with the ink-cartridges that he had rescued from his ruined pen. He’d need to buy a replacement with his pocket-money lest his father find he’d ruined one in temper--- they weren’t cheap, and though he could afford dozens Ted didn’t like to appear wasteful with his possessions.
When the bell rang Ted was obviously still wound up and Cody wondered whether he should chivvy the other to their final class before lunch or whether he should take him back to their room for a bit.
“Are you… doing ok?” Cody asked hesitantly, not wanting Ted’s wrath taken out on him.
“I’m fine,” he answered rather harshly.
“Cuz we could go and blow off some steam,” Cody then told him.
“Isn’t that what got us into trouble last time?” Ted asked before he began walking faster, leaving Cody behind in his wake on his way to their next class.
Cody’s shoulders slumped as he watched Ted walk away, knowing that trying to catch up was hopeless. “Lover’s spat?” came a voice behind him.
“Do you ever give it a rest Mizanin?” Cody asked.
“Do you ever get off Ted’s dick, Runnels?” Mike asked in return.
“I’d be grateful Ted wasn’t here to hear you say that,” Cody said, shaking his head at him.
“Oh? And why’s that?” Mike asked, smirking.
He clearly had no idea of the potential danger he could be in if Ted misunderstood--- or in this case guessed the truth. Cody arched a brow at him.
“Because if Ted finds out that it was you who saw us fucking then he’s going to take you to pieces, and he’ll make sure he takes his time and that it hurts.”
The words were so matter-of-face that Mike was momentarily startled.
“Ha, whatever you say Runnels,” he tried to laugh it off.
“Mike, I don’t like you but I’d rather not have your death on Ted’s conscience.”
~~~
Once they were in the room, Evan glad for their free period today to allow them the chance to talk, he asked, “So, what is it?” He placed his hand on Chris’ face and looked into his eyes.
“Evan… I…” he hesitated, still unsure of just what to say.
“Just tell me! What’s wrong? Are you sick? Is your family all ok? Are you ok?” Evan asked.
“Evan, I’m fine. My family’s ok, I promise… I just… it’s more… us.”
“Us? Wait, what are you trying to tell me? Are… are we done?”
“No! God, no, let me finish!” Chris said as soon as Evan asked him that. “I don’t want us to be done, not even once we graduate.”
“Why would we…” Evan started, but trailed off when he realized… Chris had to go back to Canada. He was staying in England. Once they graduated here, would they ever even see one another again?
“Oh God…” how could he have been so blind? Chris had professed that it was most likely he’d be heading back to his family in Canada once he’d graduated from the academy. How could he forget that?
Despite himself Evan felt his vision blurring and turned away.
“Oh what a fool I’ve been… of course, what other option is there?” he covered his face with his hands, shaking his head from side to side.
Immediately he felt Chris’ strong chest at his back, those comforting arms tight around his shoulders. Chris’ face pressed into the crook of Evan’s neck, “I don’t want to leave you,” he said, voice shaking with emotion.
“B-But you’ll have to,” he wouldn’t cry, Evan told himself firmly, men did not cry like girls.
“No,” Chris’ voice was firm, holding Evan tighter, “Evan, I love you too much to let go.”
He’d defy his whole family if he had to, to keep Evan at his side.
“Chris… I… while I admire the sentiment… I can’t let you do that… you can’t just… give up your family, your future, to be with me,” Evan said, though he was still trying to hold back his sobs. He really didn’t want Chris to leave him. He never wanted to give him his heart, but now he finally accepted that he had and he didn’t want to lose it.
“You’re worth it,” Chris told him. “Look, I can convince my family that I want to stay here for Uni, and we can go to the same school together. And then once we graduate, I’ll tell them that I just love it here.”
“What if they find out that you’re only here because of me?” Evan asked.
“You’ve become my best friend here! They’ll think that we’ve become attached as friends, not as anything more.”
“So… you’re really going to try and attend University over here?”
“I’m certainly going to try. I don’t really see what my family would have against it. There are far more prestigious schools here than there are in Canada, and I can’t imagine anyone would have a problem with that.”
“Mhm,” Evan couldn’t manage more than the non-verbal utterance, his back still to Chris and the other still holding onto him. Chris prayed that Evan believed him; whatever he had to do to make it work he would do, but he knew that he would never be able to leave Evan behind. He could see his family anytime, if he left Evan… he couldn’t do that.
“Evan-“ the ravenette turned his head enough to acknowledge that Chris was speaking to him and he felt the sensation of one of Chris’ hands sliding into his hair before he found smooth, firm lips pressed against his own.
The action was the catalyst to release his tears, but Evan didn’t pull away.
This time he needed the kiss as badly as Chris did, twisting his position round so that they were facing properly.
Chris could taste the saltiness of Evan’s tears on his lips and vowed that never again would Evan shed a tear of unhappiness over him. Chris wouldn’t allow that to happen as much as his power would allow for prevention.
“Evan, my sweet, sweet, angel…” Chris murmured, lowering Evan to the bed and covering the smaller body with his own, still kissing.
Chris’ hands were on Evan’s face, cupping his cheeks; he could feel the streaks of Evan’s tears on his palms and brushed them away with his thumbs.
“Are you going to make love to me?” Evan whispered, his own hands cupping Chris’ face.
“Is that what you want?” Chris asked, thumbs still rubbing over Evan’s cheeks lightly.
Evan leaned up, closing the space between them once more as their lips met in another kiss. Then his hands moved lower, down Chris’ neck and then to his tie, which he began to loosen.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Chris breathed out as Evan worked on his tie.
This time Evan nodded. “Please,” he added.
“As long as we’re done in time for lunch,” Chris said.
Evan tried to scowl, but ended up grinning instead, and he gently hit Chris’ shoulder.
Smiling softly himself Chris allowed Evan to remove his tie and shrugged out of his shirt once the buttons had been undone, then divesting Evan of his own.
All the while they were kissing and caressing, neither rushing despite their pointed time limits.
Once they were both naked Evan suddenly moved, resting himself on the bed on all fours.
To say that surprised Chris wouldn’t be an understatement, “Ev-“ he wasn’t protesting the position even though they’d never done it before, but circumstantially… “Please?” he whispered.
And how could Chris refuse? Reaching into the side drawer he moved behind his lover.
Slicking three of his fingers he gently pressed one inside of Evan’s entrance.
Still so tight, Chris thought, kissing Evan’s neck.
Shivering with sensation Evan parted his legs some more as he felt a second finger.
Evan let out a little whimper once both fingers were inside him completely. Things all felt so different in this change in position from what they were used to. It still felt good, though.
With his free hand, Chris ran his fingers over Evan’s tight ass, seeing the appeal to doing it like this. While he couldn’t see Evan’s face, he could explore so much of Evan’s body that he really hadn’t had the chance to explore before.
Sucking in a breath as Chris hit his prostate, Evan crossed his arms over a pillow and let his head fall forward onto his arms, ass going up even further in the air. “Can you… now?” he asked, voice muffled.
“Now? Are you sure?” Chris asked in return, drawing his fingers out, twisting them as he did so, before pushing in once again.
“I need you,” Evan said. “Please, Chris.”
Nodding, then remembering that Evan couldn’t see him, he said, “Ok.” He reached back for the lubricant, which he slicked onto himself quickly before positioning himself behind Evan. He pushed his hips forward, entering his lover’s tight body. Once he was fully seated, both he and Evan swore that he was even deeper inside of him than ever before.
“Ohh~~” Evan shivered as the soft moan left him, feeling Chris’ hands alighting his hips even as his chest pressed into Evan’s back. He reveled in the slightly larger body caging his own.
“Evan,” Chris rumbled lowly, kissing the back and sides of Evan’s neck, even nibbling at his ear as he gave him a moment or two to adjust. And then, slowly, he pulled out before pushing himself back in, head tipping at the sensation.
When Evan realised one of Chris’ hands had planted down onto the bed Evan reached and twined his fingers through the Canadian’s, causing Chris to lift his head from the nape of Evan’s neck to look.
“I love you,” the murmured words felt slightly awkward since Evan couldn’t see Chris’ face but he knew that the other heard him.
“And I love you, Evan, more than anything.”
Turning his head awkwardly Evan managed to catch Chris’ eyes and the blonde immediately knew what he wanted. Leaning down he pressed their lips together, tongues and saliva making the kisses messy and slow, all the while Chris’ hips continued to move, the soft slapping sound of his hips against Evan’s backside beginning to echo in their room.
Evan’s neck didn’t particularly enjoy being bent around backwards as such, but the rest of him didn’t care. He had Chris’ tongue in his mouth and Chris’ dick up his ass and he felt so good.
Chris continued his thrusts, the sound of skin on skin remaining at a steady pace. “I love you so much,” he said once more. God, he couldn’t get enough of saying those words. He’d fallen in love with telling Evan he loved him.
Smiling, Evan returned with, “I love you, too.” His mouth then fell open as a low moan made its way out when Chris brushed that spot inside him. “Oh, god.”
Chris kissed Evan’s cheek, then kissed his way up until his lips were pressed to the back of Evan’s neck. He peppered small kisses all along his neck and shoulders, thrusting all the while. He knew he was getting closer. Evan’s tight ass always drove him to the edge.
“Touch me?” Evan asked. His own cock was still hard and leaking and just begging for contact, and his own hand couldn’t compare to Chris’.
Nodding, Chris let one of his hands run down Evan’s side and over his hip slowly before going back around to his groin, Evan making a soft sound at the firm, ever-so-slightly calloused touch of Chris’.
Their rhythm was still slow, thorough, and Evan could feel each rigid inch of Chris as he pressed into him. Each contact of the swollen head of Chris’ cock against his prostate had him shuddering lightly in pleasure, groaning.
The way Evan tightened around him as he stroked him had Chris becoming a little more vocal in himself, feeling his balls beginning to tighten before too long.
It was in a rather fitting tandem that they came, Evan coating Chris’ hand and Chris coating Evan’s insides, some of his seed seeping from his lover’s entrance even before he’d fully left him. The Canadian immediately drew Evan into his arms as he lay himself down.
Pressing gentle kisses over Evan’s flushed cheeks and his nose before alighting his lips Chris murmured, “Say you’ll stay mine Evan, please,” he murmured.
“Yes, Chris,” Evan replied. “I’m yours.”
“Even if I have to go back to Canada?” Chris asked, hoping that wouldn’t be the case.
“Forever,” Evan said. “I love you so much, too much to give up.”
“I’m going to stay over here for University,” Chris said authoritatively. He needed to stay out here. If he didn’t, he risked losing Evan. They were still both so young, if they separated after this, there was every chance that, despite what was just said, Evan would get another lover. He couldn’t stand that happening. He wanted to be Evan’s one and only, just as Evan was his.
“Are you sure you want to do that? What about your family?” Evan asked.
“I’m sure that I want to be with you. I can visit my family, and they can visit me. But I want to stay with you.”
“Chris…” Evan pressed his face into the crook of Chris’ neck, hiding that he had been struck by the urge to well up again.
Chris gently carded his fingers through Evan’s hair.
“I really mean it Evan,” he said softly, not wanting to frighten the other with his commitment.
When Evan pulled back to look him in the eye again Chris elaborated.
“For me… you’re it. Even if one day I have to marry, you are the only true one for me.” He lifted one of Evan’s hands and placed it over his naked torso where his heart was still beating a little erratically, “My heart belongs only to you.” The ravenette’s eyes closed momentarily and Chris wondered whether he’d said too much, come on too strong. A moment and Evan’s eyes then opened again.
“And mine only belongs to you, Chris,” he assured softly, nodding his head.
“Good. Because I don’t think I could stand it belonging to anyone else,” Chris told him.
“I don’t think I ever could give it to anyone else. Not after being with you like this,” Evan said. “I never thought that I’d be giving my heart to someone while I was so young. Especially since losing my parents.”
Chris tilted his head a little. That was one thing that Evan didn’t talk about a whole lot. He knew a little about their deaths, and how he was raised by his aunt and uncle, but that was about all he knew. “How do you mean?” he asked, not wanting to sound rude, just curious.
“I mean… I was really young when I lost them, and though they were strict about things and very religious, they were my parents and I loved them. Then they were taken from me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Auntie and Uncle and Randy and his siblings, but they’re not my parents… Anyway, what I’m trying to say is… I was young when I had two people I loved more than anything taken away from me and I didn’t know if I’d ever love anyone as unconditionally again.” Evan paused, taking a deep breath before saying, “Then I found you.”
“Oh, Evan,” Chris whispered, pulling Evan’s smaller frame into his own embrace.
Evan held the blonde back, pleased that his words had been understood in the context.
“I’ll always be here, Evan,” Chris murmured gently into his ear, “Nothing’s ever going to take me away from you.” And he was going to everything humanly possible to keep that promise. “And even if we are separated physically at one time I’ll always be here,” he touched his heart.
It had taken a lot for Evan to make his confession and Chris appreciated it probably more than Evan would ever know. Gently tilting his lover’s chin up he kissed him, slowly and sweetly, conveying what he couldn’t say in words.
When they pulled apart they smiled at one another, Evan giving a silent nod of acknowledgement.
He didn’t doubt that Chris believed his words were true, but he had learnt from a young age that Death and Circumstances were two things that no one could combat against no matter how hard they tried… one day something might happen to separate them and when that happened he knew he’d be devastated for the rest of his days. “Did you say that you wanted to go for lunch?” Evan sat up enough to look at the clock that they had on the mantle of the little ornate fireplace in their room, “We should be getting a move on then.”
~~~
“Why doesn’t anyone seem to like me?” Mike asked.
“Because you’re an arrogant know it all prick?” Cody suggested.
Mike shrugged slightly. He really couldn’t argue with that. “Really, though, DiBiase doesn’t have it in him to hurt a fly.”
“He owns four rifles and three pistols and his family has five hunting dogs. He’s been getting a new gun for his birthday since he turned ten. They have a room in their house dedicated to their kills and the biggest buck on the wall belongs to Ted from when he was on a hunt when he was thirteen,” Cody told him, raising a brow challengingly. “Don’t be so sure he wouldn’t rip you limb from limb.”
“Is that a threat, Runnels?” Mike asked.
“Is it, Mizanin?” Cody returned.
For a moment the pair stood facing one another, gazes challenging.
The only thing that broke their staring match was a third party’s voice.
“Save your romantic eyes for the stage, hm?”
“Romantic? Spare me Morrison.”
John Morrison was probably Mike’s only real friend in school and the pair was close. He slung an arm around Mike’s shoulder, “Are we going then?”
Still looking at Cody, Mike nodded, glancing away only when John started to pull him. Cody stuck his tongue out childishly after both men and then exhaled a breath before turning. He supposed he’d best go and find Ted and make sure he wasn’t doing anything he’d feel bad about later… like breaking something. The ravenette made the quick trip to the common room, asking a few boys there if Ted had been that way.
When none of them said that they had seen him, Cody didn’t know whether or not to be relieved. So, he turned out of the room and was about half way to his next class when the bell rang. He smiled sheepishly at the professor when he walked in late, but sighed to himself when he saw Ted sitting at his desk. He looked pissed off, but at least he hadn’t broken anything.
The entire class, Cody tried to find some way to talk to Ted, but their professor didn’t shut up. Plus, he hounded on Cody for showing up late, calling on him to answer almost every question.
Ted just sat there, stoned face the whole time. He was hearing what the professor was saying, but he really wasn’t paying attention. He might as well have not shown up at all for all he took out of that class.
Once the bell rang, Cody was questioned out and Ted was just ready to get out of there. “Ted, wait up!” Cody said once he reached the door and saw Ted’s back up ahead of him. He wasn’t letting Ted get away this time.
“What?” Ted snapped. “I’m hungry and I’m not in the mood.”
“I was just trying to calm you down, Teddy. It’s not good for you to carry your anger around, you know.”
“I’m fine,” Ted all but growled at him and Cody puffed his cheeks up in annoyance before then forcing himself to calm down; letting Ted’s temper get to him would only result in a fight and he really didn’t want that to happen, not when things had finally calmed down between them again. Besides… his guilt was also forcing him to keep himself reined in for once, unusual indeed.
Lengthening his stride as best he could Cody managed to keep pace with his fuming lover, noting absently that people seemed to be ducking aside to let Ted pass, as though sensing a dark aura.
After they had eaten Cody was damn well going to drag Ted back to their room and make him calm down somehow. Sure he had a few ideas, but with the mood that Ted was in he was sure he’d be rebuffed.
Grabbing a tray Cody picked a couple of sandwiches from the selection, noting that in Ted’s preoccupied state he had bypassed dessert--- something even the dinner-lady noticed. And, as such, when Cody took a second cake she allowed it.
Taking a seat besides his lover Cody put the second cake onto Ted’s tray before waiting until he noticed it.
“Theodore, you’re being an arse, stop it,” he enunciated firmly.
“Oh, please, you get to be a damn drama queen all the time, but I can’t be in a bad mood once?” Ted snapped back.
“Excuse me?” Cody asked. “I am not a drama queen, and you have no reason to be in a bad mood right now.”
“I don’t? Mike might have seen us, Cody, and you’re telling me that I don’t have a reason to be in a bad mood?”
“What sort of battleground have I walked in on?” Justin asked as he set his tray down across the table from the two of them.
“Ted’s being an arse,” Cody told him, “just because of something Mizanin said to him.”
“It’s a little bit more than that, Cody.”
“Hey. Why do you guys keep constantly fighting one another?” Justin asked. He knew that no matter what they still loved one another and that these were just minor spats, but he didn’t want to see them fight this much at all.
“Because Cody’s not even taking any of this seriously and doesn’t care that I do!” Ted exclaimed.
“I do care!” Cody told him. “But there’s nothing we can do to stop it, so we just need to let it go. Oh, and here… I got you dessert,” he added, sliding the cake over to the blonde.
It was apparent that Ted had been caught off-guard by the change in subject because even as he geared up to snap back once more he seemed to pause, staring at the cake as though he had never seen one before and was assessing it.
Justin grinned slightly as he began to eat his own food; no matter what mood Ted was in the sweet-tooth always prevailed.
Though the following thanks he was given was still rather grudging and brusque Cody decided to just let that go.
“Really Ted,” Justin then input as Cody finished his own food and began in on his cake. He always ate it rather eccentrically:
He’d start with whatever topping there was and then cut the cake into two, devouring one half and then the other, even occasionally taking the cake apart further. Ted and Justin ate their cakes normally.
“Really what?” Ted asked as Justin had been distracted by Cody’s finicky cake eating habits momentarily. Justin recalled himself swiftly.
“Oh, I was just going to say don’t let Mizanin bother you. He knows it’ll cost him too much to run his mouth… if he even has anything to run it about.”
Ted tried not to sigh; he really got irritated when they cut his moods off like they did.
“One day saying that’ll come back to bite us in the ass.”
“Come on now, you know that Mizanin is full of shit,” Justin said across the table to him. “He’s nothing but a load of hot air.”
Cody nodded, agreeing with Justin, though he knew full well that this time Mizanin wasn’t completely full of shit. “Don’t let him get to you like that. You know he feeds of that sort of thing, getting a rise out of someone.”
“I know,” Ted huffed. He was usually a calm and collected guy, but when he got pissed off, he really got pissed off. And Mizanin was pissing him off. “But let’s say he wasn’t the one that saw us… did someone tell him? Could whoever saw us go and tell their friends, or even Barrett?”
“Well, I would say considering almost every boy in this school over the age of fourteen has played around with another boy, there’s not going to be much of a reaction,” Cody replied.
“And Wade’s not going to care… he does hear rumours, you know,” Justin told him.
“What rumours?” Ted asked.
“That you two are sleeping together. That’s been going around for about two years now,” Justin said.
“Two years?!” Ted was shocked. He had no idea that there were rumours about he and Cody together, especially going around for so long.
“You didn’t know then?” Justin nodded, “Everyone had you two paired up before any of us ever really considered what sex was.”
Ted sputtered but Cody seemed strangely unsurprised by this tidbit of information.
He had obviously heard more than Ted.
“Wait, so… Wade knows?” Ted said, feeling his cheeks beginning to flame up. Oh Lord--- how could he possibly go to Justin’s house with Cody if their host knew what they got up to? Surely they wouldn’t be allowed to stay in the same room…
“Ted, it would be hypocritical of him to care,” Justin pointed out, “I guess as long as he doesn’t catch you up to anything in our house he won’t need to even mention it. You can act freely together at our home…” the staff were not as numerous as one would expect in a sizable house and very discreet.
Ted’s head shook rapidly at that; he couldn’t act freely with Cody! Even behind the closed doors of Justin’s home; if someone were ever to catch them then they’d be in big trouble.
Cody sighed slightly and shook his head, wiping his mouth on his napkin as he finished eating his dessert.
Ted’s reaction wasn’t unexpected but with any luck some time spent around Justin and Wade in their private environment might calm him down.
“Really, Ted, he doesn’t care that you two are together,” Justin said once more to try and assure him.
“But we’re not supposed to be sleeping with one another. Any of us. And not just because we’re all males, either… as students here in general, we’re not supposed to be sleeping with anyone,” Ted told him.
“I know the rules here just as well as you do. As does Wade. And as he has told me before, he was a teenager once, too. There’s nothing to be worried about, especially when you’re staying with us.”
Ted poked at his cake and ate a few more bites. “So… people have really thought that about us for that long?” he asked, still looking a bit confused, but seemingly less upset, which was certainly a plus.
Cody nodded. “I’m shocked you never knew that about us, Teddy,” he said to him.
“Well, it’s not like people talk about rumours about me to my face,” Ted replied.
“That’s true enough… but it’s pretty common knowledge that you’re highly possessive and protective of me.”
“Just like any good friend should be!”
“I didn’t say I dislike it,” Cody pointed out, “And it’s equally common knowledge that you’re the first person I always go to for anything, and that you’re just as much my main concern,” he added after a moment.
“Basically it’s just a given that you’re slightly further than the realm of ‘just friends’,” Justin said easily.
Ted huffed a small breath and shook his head; it was a good job that neither of his brothers went to the Academy (well, Mike had already graduated and Brett had chosen a different school) otherwise that would be it.
He had no idea what his brothers might do, or say, if they were to find out about he and Cody… though Brett had made cheeky comments about their closeness before if he recalled it correctly. He was only young though so often overlooked.
“Well… you learn something new every day don’t you?” he finally lamented lightly.
Cody chuckled and shook his head slightly, Justin also gaining an expression of amusement.
“I’m looking forward to you both coming over actually,” Justin said, “And I think Wade’s quite looking forward to it too.”
“Really?” Cody asked, surprised, and Justin nodded, “He was worried I’d never asked for company before now.”
“How come you never did?” Cody asked. Justin had been over to his house a number of times, Ted’s as well.
“I don’t know. Maybe because I live with the headmaster and I guess… I always felt strange about asking people into his home,” Justin explained with a shrug.
“That makes sense,” Ted agreed with him.
“Yeah… he would sometimes ask, though, if I ever wanted to have anyone over. You know, over the holidays and whatnot. I would always say no, obviously… plus I always thought that people would have already made plans. You two would stay together, Joe and Windham would stay together…”
“Justin, if you had ever asked me over, I would have said yes in a heart beat and dragged Teddy along with me. Which shouldn’t actually surprise you considering how I had to practically beg you to invite us over,” Cody said.
“Well, I didn’t know that before,” Justin told him, cheeks slightly pink.
“Well, now you do!” Cody exclaimed.
“Now I do.”