Con Brio: Todd and Ian's story

32

Why is Ian nervous? It makes no logical sense. It's not like they've concerned themselves with him very much, it's not like they're really in contact, since he's moved out. 
Or before he moved out, really. 
Which suits him fine. He's making his own family, now. 
And yet... calling them, telling them hey mum, dad, guess what, I'm bi and I have a boyfriend, and oh yes, his name is Todd? It fazes him for reasons he doesn't understand. 
He knows, of course, that he can say no, not yet. Todd will wait, he won't mind. He'll wait as long as he asks him to. But he wants to call. He wants to say. 
Hell, he wants the whole world to know that he belongs to Todd. 
So he watches soberly as Todd calls home, as he tells his mum that actually, he's liked Ian for a while, and it turns out he likes him back, and they're together now. Todd's mum's enthusiasm over the phone makes him smile widely. She's obviously happy for Todd, and for him. He listens as Todd promises they'll come over for dinner when they return from Taipei, and as Todd says bye. 

"She didn't even seem that surprised." he says as Todd hangs up. Todd shrugs. 
"Yeah. I... I didn't tell her per se, that I'd fallen for you, but I think she saw some of it anyway."
That wasn't really what Ian meant, but he's not about to press it. His heart is pounding in his chest enough as it is. 
"They'll be home, right?" Todd asks quietly as he hands Ian his phone from the little chest of drawers beside the bed. 
"Yeah, they'll be home, this early. Really not sure if they'll bother to answer, though."
That look flits over Todd's face, the look he's seen so many times before when the topic has been his parents. He chooses not to think about it now and dials home quickly. 
The phone rings, and rings. At least six heartbeats to every ring. He can just picture it ringing, in his old house. His mum yelling at his dad to pick it up. His dad yelling back, fucking well pick it up yourself, you fucking hag. The phone goes straight to voice mail, of course, and for a moment Ian wants to hang up. But then he shakes his head. 
No. He is Todd's. And he wants the world to know. So he needs to do the right thing and tell his folks, even if they don't care enough to pick up the phone. 
"Mum, dad, hi." he starts after the generic message. "Erm... just wanted to tell you... Taipei... Taipei is great. And um. Here's the thing: I'm bi, and I'm with Todd now. I'll call next week. Um... bye."

Fuck, why does it still hurt? It's so stupid. Why does he even care what they think at all? His childhood, the neglect, the abuse and the pain pulls through his brain harshly. 
Why does it even matter, now? 
Todd sees, of course, because he pulls him into a hug and holds him close. 
"Their loss." he whispers. 
And normally Ian would have disagreed, somewhere deep down. He wouldn't have said it, of course, but he would have thought that maybe no, maybe it was his fault after all, maybe it had always been his fault, just for being him, just for being completely unloveable. 
But Todd loves him now. He really does, he has shown him. It has changed everything. So he nods. 
"Yeah."
Todd strokes his hair back and smiles sweetly at him.
"Come here and kiss me."

See? It's impossible to be upset about your parents when you have a Todd in your arms, with his gorgeous, sweet tongue that dances with his own, with his lovely, long fingers that are going down now, down his belly, further down to where he is still naked. He can't believe his body responds again, after last night, but before he knows it his breaths are coming fast and he is surrendering to Todd's agile hand as his own hand finds Todd in turn.