Letting Him In

Chapter-49

"Holdin' me back
Gravity's holdin' me back
I want you to hold out the palm of your hand
Why don't we leave it at that?
Nothin' to say
When everything gets in the way
Seems you cannot be replaced
And I'm the one who will stay, oh-oh-oh"

-Harry Styles, As It Was
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Dean

Dean sat in the living room, anxiously waiting for his parents to return from the meeting with the company board. They had called him, asking him to come home because they needed to talk urgently.

He hadn't wanted to leave Elijah, not when he looked so sad and tired like a lost puppy even while he was asleep.

Yet here he was. He looked up when the door opened, but relaxed when he saw it was only Chris.

"It's mayhem out there. Why is the media so interested in your love life?"

"They wouldn't be if I was dating a girl," Dean muttered, annoyed at the world for being so prejudiced.

"Well, fuck them," Chris retorted, plopping down beside him on the leather couch. "They suck anyway."

Dean nodded, not wanting to banter right now. He was tired, and the urge to go to Brian's house and do more than just break his nose this time was growing by the minute.

"You okay?" Chris asked, his voice more concerned and serious now. "I know it can't be easy. But you don't have to act so... nonchalant even now."

"I don't know how else to react," Dean admitted, rubbing his hands over his face. "It's either this or completely losing my shit."

"Then go ballistic," Chris said, shrugging. Dean looked at him incredulously, so he explained, "It's better than something happening and triggering you into losing your cool with the wrong person."

Dean sighed, slumping further into his seat. He wished he could go back in time, take Brian's phone and smash it against the wall the very night he revealed the secret that wasn't even his to know.

"That won't help anyone," Dean mumbled.

Christian shook his head, but looking at Dean's tired appearance, he didn't argue.

He wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders, letting Dean lean his head against him. They hadn't really been the hugging or physically comforting type since they were much younger, but Dean was glad to have the support right now.

No matter what, he knew he'd always have one person in his corner.

His eyes drooped after a few minutes of comfortable silence, but before he could fall asleep, the front door opened, and this time his parents came in.

He had never seen his mother look so disheveled. She wasn't in an elegant dress or suit like she usually was for board meetings. Her casual pants and top were usually reserved for indoors.

His father too, looked tired, slight bags beneath his eyes.

They'd been out all day, trying to figure this out, he realized with guilt.

Yet they didn't look angry or upset with him as his mother approached him, instantly leaning down pulling him into a hug.

"Are you alright?" she questioned, pulling away to meet his eyes.

Dean nodded, saying a soft 'yeah'.

"What about Elijah?" his father asked, coming to sit down opposite to Dean and Chris, their mother following suit.

This was what Dean was most grateful for. Not only had his parents wholeheartedly accepted him for himself, they hadn't even met Elijah yet, and were still fully supportive.