Cronkri: I won't let you down

Chapter 11

The car ride back to Cronus's house consisted of the two of us holding hands and exchanging stories in the back seat, while Orpheus and Marquise decided plans in the front seat, such as sleeping arrangements.
"We can't let 'im sleep in the guest bed, it's full a spiders n' shit!"
"What's so bad about spiders?"
"Nothin', they're just... kinda creepy. The kid'd be better off sleepin' with Cro."
The car pulled up to their house and parked in the driveway.
"Orpheus! They can't stay in the same bed together! We won't get any sleep from hearing Kankri all night."
I blushed, pursing my lips. Cronus laughed.
"Oh please." Mr. Ampora turned around to face us. "You boys won't try anything weird if we let ya share a bed, right?"
Cronus and I put on the most innocent faces we could muster while still looking believable. "Nah, you can trust us, Dad!"
I nodded in agreement.
"See? They'll be fine."
Marquise rolled her eyes as she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car, soon to be followed by the rest of us.

Once inside, Cronus and I headed straight up to his room so I could get settled.
"So... How long will I be able to stay with you?"
"Until you get your own place."
"Do I have a time limit?"
"Nope. And Dad says we'll pay for college too. I think that's baloney, since ya' college fund won't need payin' with all these huge-ass scholarships you got, but I guess he'll cover whatever they don't."
"Are you sure? I don't want to bleed your parents dry..."
Cronus laughed. "You kiddin'? It ain't nothin' worth worryin' about. They pretty much got everything laid out for 'em far as money goes."
"...My apologies if this is an unwarranted question, but where exactly did they get this wealth?"
He shrugged. "Pretty sure Dad's related to royalty or something, distantly related but still somethin' worth noticing. Some king in some country on the other side of the world. I dunno for sure though. Why, d'ya think we stole it or something?" He added jokingly.
I shook my head quickly and my face heated up. "No, no! Of course not! I just... well I didn't know... I mean.."
Cronus placed his lips on mine to quiet my babbling.
"I know you didn't. I was jokin'."
I blushed deeply and looked up at him. "Right.. Of course..."
Then Orpheus popped his head in the door and looked at us.
"Lights out, boys. Don't stay up too late."
I nodded. "Yes, sir. Goodnight!"
"Night Dad!"
"Night kids," he said before leaving and closing the door behind him.
I looked at Cronus. "So.. pajama time?"
"Yeah, about that. I don't usually wear a shirt to bed. That okay with you?"
"Very much so, yes," I said before being able to stop myself.
He laughed, then stopped in thought. "Y'know... I don't think I've ever seen you shirtless. All this time we've been together and you've always had your shirt on around me. Like, I've never even been in the locker rooms or anything with you."
I rubbed my arm nervously. "Well.. I never have been one to go shirtless.. anywhere, really. I'm not as confident as you are."
"You'll show me though, right? Just a peek while you're changing?"
I thought it over. "I suppose that wouldn't hurt... I do trust you more than just about anyone."
He grinned and did a celebratory fist pump. "Yes! Sleepin' with Kanny, AND seein' him shirtless! Score for Cronus!"
I laughed nervously to hide my blush and tossed one of his shirts at his face. "Shush."
He stopped celebrating, but still kept a grin on his face as he began pulling off his shirt, revealing his tan, muscular frame. I couldn't help but stare. He tossed his shirt into a pile in the corner and turned to face me, grinning.
"Your turn~"
"M-my turn?"
He nodded. "You gotta change eventually, and I'll see ya sometime anyway, so why not right now?"
"You have a point..." I stated quietly, reaching up and yanking off my tee shirt slowly. "There. It's not the greatest sight, I know."

I never have been very fond of my body. My torso is so pale from never seeing the sun, and I'm incredibly out of shape. I'm not necessarily chubby, but I do have some squishy bits that make me uncomfortable. And I don't like the feeling of my chest being exposed. It just doesn't feel right.

"I think ya' beautiful, chief."
"Thank you."
Cronus stepped closer to me and wrapped me up in a hug, holding me close.
It felt weird at first since I've never hugged a shirtless guy while being shirtless myself, but it was nice. More than nice, it felt... Wonderful. Amazing. All of those good words.

"Cronus? May I put my shirt back on now?"
"Oh yeah... a course. Wait, are you plannin' on wearin' the same shirt you wore today?"
"I don't see why not... It is my pajama shirt after all."
"Yeah, but I think you'd look better in this one."
He strode over to his dresser and picked out one of his tee shirts for me, a white shirt with his zodiac sign on it. It was his favorite shirt.

"Whaddaya think, chief? You like it?" he asked me after I had pulled the shirt on over my head.
"It's... Rather large, to say the least."
The shirt came down just past my hips and the sleeves fit loosely around my scrawny arms.
"You look more like a bottom now, it works on you."
My blush deepened indignantly. "Cronus! I-"
"I'm just kiddin'!" He said with a laugh as he turned off the overhead light and leaped into his bed, leaving us with only the moon and his nightstand lamp for lighting. He held out his arms to me and I felt like my heart was about to beat out of my chest. This was it. I was finally going to sleep with Cronus Ampora, the one and only. And I was in his shirt no less, making it even more amazing. All I could think about as I crawled into bed with him and snuggled up against him, becoming the little spoon, was how fantastic this whole thing was. Sure, I had to leave my family behind. But it was worth it to stay with Cronus. Right next to him, at least for now. Feeling his warm embrace for an entire night...

The night was filled with Cronus and I snuggling, our arms around each other and our legs tangled together. We had a few late-night conversations and small make out sessions. Unfortunately, we were both getting tired eventually and my mind had refused to remember many of the topics.
"Uh, Kanny?"
"Yes?"
"Is that the sun?"
I sat up and turned to observe the view out the window.
"I believe so... Unless your neighbors are putting up their Christmas decorations a few seasons in advance."
Cronus laughed. "Mom n' Dad won't be up for at least three or four hours. Wanna try and get some sleep?"
"We might as well. It's not like it could hurt us."
He laid down on his back, holding my hand in his as I resumed my position next to him.
"G'night, chief."
"Sweet dreams, Cronus."