angel baby (heavy editing)

45

         (A/N: a short but very meaningful chapter)

  It was exam period and Oliver was in exam mood as much as he could be. The deal he made with his father years ago in exchange that Oliver wouldn't be bothered with the family business nonsense until he was at least 20 was that he would get nothing less than a B plus as grade. The day he got less was the day the business talk started in full force and so far he had kept that promise but he wasn't sure about the current exam. A lot had happened. Perhaps his dad would cut him some slack. Or he wouldn't so he had to really try.
Right now, both him and Oliver were in the mansion's library studying. Finally, since the exam started a few days ago, they were having the same paper on the same day at the same time, so they exchanged notes. Each time Chris would make a mistake, he would whine softly. Oliver found it adorable but it also did funny things to his stomach.
Sometimes, he would catch himself staring at Chris. Sometimes he did it so much that it was almost baffling Chris didn't call him out on it. Chris had continued therapy, with the same doctor. Apparently, they had started on a wrong foot. Chris also looked better, ate better and slept better (he knew this because they slept together. He loved and hated it. Whatever had been written in that journal had brought him some kind of peace. It wasn't a lot but it was progress.
A knock on the door interrupted their study session or rather, a study session whereby Oliver would stare at Chris every five seconds. It was getting ridiculous at this point.
"Come in", Oliver said.
The door opened and a maid entered. He knew her as Mauve. He could be wrong. He was really an ass.
"Master Chris, your mother is here to see you"
Lia had been by their house a few times since her last visit. She and his mother had been getting along or trying to get along and Oliver couldn't describe the happiness he felt. He could tell Chris was happy too. It was long overdue. There was no reason they couldn't get along.
"You too Master Oliver"
"But I'm studying"
Mauve and Chris said simultaneously. Experiences of the past few days had taught him that Chris took his studies seriously, maybe a little bit seriously in his opinion but who was he to talk? Studying came easy for him. Perhaps that was one thing he was good at.
But him also? What could Lia possibly want to talk about? What if it was his mother? It had spread weeks ago who the true and son was and who the intruder was so perhaps Mauve just acknowledged them in the right way. They would find out in a moment but he had to convince Chris to drop his book for a second.
"Come on, it'll only be for a second"
Chris frowned at him for a few seconds before his eyes softened. Oliver fought a smile. He didn't need to ruin the moment.
He stood up and helped Chris up and together they exited the library together.
   When they arrived at the said location, it was truly Lia but his mother was there and so was Lena. Lia and Lena had their hands intertwined. Those two were going to be together forever.
Lia stood up and welcomed them both. She had been doing that for weeks now. Oliver felt seen.
Quickly they took their seats.
"Okay, we're all here. What's the big news?" His mother said.
The two women who sat in front of them gazed at each other fondly and Oliver had an inkling.
"Um, so we wanted everyone special to us to be here when we announced this"
Lia looked at everyone and he noticed how her eyes softened even more when her eyes met Chris.
"Lena and I are getting married"
Called it.
"Oh my God, that's amazing", his mother exclaimed as she stood up with the brides to be as they exchanged hugs. It was truly amazing. Lia deserved that. Lena too.
The smile on his face immediately vanished when he turned to see the look on Chris's face. He didn't look happy. He looked angry.
Oh fuck.
Everyone else finally saw what Oliver saw.
"Chris, baby", Lia said slowly.
He shook his head and was running out of the room before anyone could get another word in. Oliver immediately followed as he heard the calling of the adults behind them.
Chris was probably the fastest person Oliver knew and he almost couldn't keep up with him but he had to. If someone lost someone in this gigantic house, one lost them for life until they wanted to be found.
    Almost predictably, Chris rushed into the art room. Oliver prayed to every deity that Chris wouldn't lock himself in and the rush of relief he felt the moment he turned the knob and it opened was refreshing. He entered and closed the door behind him.
He couldn't find Chris anywhere for a hot minute. He looked around almost frantically. He almost missed it but he saw a loose rope of a sneaker at one corner. He slowly walked towards that direction and thankfully Chris sat there wiping away angry tears. He took a seat next to him and the sound that filled the room for the next few minutes was Chris's constant sniff.
"Do you want to tell me why you're angry?" Oliver finally asked.
A loud sniff later, "She's abandoning me"
Oliver understood it might look that way to Chris but he had to find a way to explain it to him even if it meant gaslighting him a bit.
"Your mother has taken care of you since she was nineteen years old. Don't you think she deserves happiness, in the romantic sense?"
"Yes"
He was relieved he agreed to that. He was scared Chris would have twisted his words. Everybody would but Chris wasn't everybody. He was different.
"But do they have to get married? They're going to get married and my mom is going to spend all her time with Lena"
"Don't you like Lena?"
"I do but-"
"Why do you like Lena?"
"Because she makes my mom happy"
"Isn't that the most important thing?"
"It is but...I just don't want her to abandon me"
She wouldn't. She never would. If Chris wasn't sure of anything, he was sure of that.
He took Chris' hand and softly rubbed behind his palm. Chris had almost girlish hands. Add that to his other girlish features.
"Your mom would rather die than abandon you. I can see the way she loves you, anybody can. But she's still going to get married to Lena, with or without your approval"
Should he have said that? It needed to be said.
"But I'm sure she would love your approval, more than anything. You want to her be happy, yes?"
He nodded.
"Then do this for her"
Chris remained silent for a few seconds,
"I- I'll try"
Oliver smiled. That was good, at least better than nothing.

           Chris was nervous and Oliver could tell. He kept biting his nail. It was their final week of exams and every exam they would be having would be computer based testing, meaning they would see their results immediately. The day's paper was economics, one of Chris' least favorite subject. He hated it more than math and he didn't like Math. Oliver tolerated economics and he definitely loved Maths so they had stayed up all night studying the subject together but Chris was still nervous which was understandable. Economics was one of his major courses. He couldn't even get a D or he would have to retake it.
  He had hugged Chris for five minutes straight in the parking, whispering assuring words to him. Chris was still nervous though less nervous. They separated since they weren't writing in the same hall and agreed to meet back there in the parking lot.
     

            Oliver twisted his arms and neck after he hit the submit sign as he waited for his score to appear.
95.
That was expected. The subject was a walk in the park. He was still worried about Chris though. Immediately the supervisor agreed he could leave, he rushed to the parking lot. Chris wasn't there yet, he anticipated it but he decided to wait. It wasn't like he had anything meaningful to do. He scrolled through his phone looking at this and that.
He was watching a funny prank fail video and failed to see Chris approach. The tap on his arm alerted him. He turned to face Chris and the smile on his face was almost blinding. Oliver had never seen him smile that big. It must have been good. No, it must have been amazing. He turned to face him.
"How was it?"
"I had a 70"
B minus.
"I had a 70, Oliver"
Chris was jumping into his arms so suddenly that Oliver stumbled a bit but he got his composure and embraced him probably.
"And it's all thanks to you", Chris said into the hug.
He finally pulled back and if things weren't surprising enough, Chris' lips hurriedly met his that the suddenness of it and the fact that Chris initiated it at all had Oliver pulling away and laughing absurdly for the next few seconds. One look at Chris confused and hurt face had him stopping and feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Was it that bad?"
"No, no I just wasn't expecting it"
And he wasn't. It was also funny that they could have had their proper kiss for the first time at the lake house but instead here they stood at the parking lot where anyone could see, not that Oliver cared. He didn't.
He gazed into Chris' eyes and the look in it almost made him stumble back.
So much openness. So much innocence. So much eagerness.
He cupped Chris' cheeks and met his lips with his like he had meaning to do for weeks. Hell, for months. He moved his lips slowly on his and Chris reciprocated immediately that Oliver was almost dancing where he stood. The moment felt magical. It was just their lips and Oliver felt on top of the world. He hadn't felt that way before, no matter how cliche that sounded.
Chris whined softly into his mouth as the hand on his shirt collar all but tightened. That was the only proof he needed to kiss him a bit deeper. Tentatively, he introduced tongue by licking at Chris' lush bottom lip. Chris whined again. That whine was doing things to him, like making him see stars. Chris opened his mouth and Oliver dived in, his tongue meeting Chris's. He dropped one hand from his checks and  pulled him closer holding his waist tightly as they kissed deeper. In a few minutes, they would be arrested for public indecency for all the immoral things he planned to do to him. Fuck. He needed to slow  down and he did. They still kissed or a better wording, they still french kissed but without the hunger that would have led to them tearing each other's clothes off.
Oliver loved the way Chris kissed. He obviously lacked experience but he made it up with his eagerness and openness and the sounds he made and the way he held on to him, fuck, Oliver never wanted to stop. They would have to stop eventually but not now. He didn't think he had the power to. He had finally gotten a taste and he was addicted.

(A/N: okay not so short. It's June 1st where I live so happy pride month. :))) 💜💜💜🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 If you're queer or even an ally, celebrate this month. Don't let homophobes or bigots take that away from you)