Con Brio: Todd and Ian's story

60) Todd

He almost falls asleep, but he remembers himself in time. Look. There's unpacking to do. Shit to happen. And they definitely need a shower. So he lowers himself off Ian, making sure not to get the bed dirty, and holds out his hand to him. The words Ian just spoke to him are still ringing around his head. 
That was the best sex I've ever had. 
It's what he said, and he meant it, because it said so on his face. Todd's heart jumps at the thought. He pulls the naked Ian towards him. Ian will need the toilet, he knows. But surely... just a second...
"It was for me as well, you know." he whispers back. 
"Really? I mean..." Ian lets him go and stand there, naked, glorious. "You've been with... you know..."
Todd kisses his forehead, then eyes him. He does know. But none of that matters anymore. His future is right here. 
"Yeah." he says gently. "But none I loved. It was never like this. That was like a peanut butter sandwich. This is a three course meal in a michelin starred restaurant."
It's so gratifying to see Ian's eyes light up. 
"Come on, let's shower first." he says. "We can unpack after."
The last thing he wants is to get back into his dirty clothes, make them dirtier. 
"Okay."

They manage to get into the bathroom without Brett or Eddy walking past, and he soaps him again, washing him tenderly in circular movements, lapping up his answering little groans. He kisses the back of his neck as his fingers wash his bum cheeks, his legs, moving to the front to wash him there. Then he pulls him against himself, back to belly, his hands on Ian's chest, his chin on Ian's shoulder. 
"This is heaven." he says. 
Ian turns around after a moment and opens his mouth to say something, but then a shrill sound pushes through their bliss. 
"Is it yours?" he asks. 
"I think so. Who could be calling me right now?"
"Wanna go see?"
Ian steps out of the shower and reaches for a towel.
"Probably better."
Todd washes himself like lightning and he's already out, already throwing on a towel and following Ian to the bedroom, where he's just fumbling with his jeans, pulling out his phone. 
"Shit. It's my dad."
Todd freezes. Ian's dad never calls. In fact... he has no idea when Ian's last spoken to his dad. Is this... shit... is this about his coming out?
"Speaker?" he asks. 
Ian nods and slides his finger over the screen. 
"Dad?" he says. 
"Ian. You fuckwit."
Ian's dad's voice lulls over the phone. He's clearly drunk. Like out of his head kind of drunk. Todd's eyes open wide in shock, but Ian doesn't respond at all, and all at once Todd could cry, because he knows straight away that that is only because he's used to this. 
"Excuse me, dad? Is there a problem?" Ian says as he holds out his free hand. Todd unfreezes instantly, steps forward and takes it. 
"Yeah. There is." Ian's dad's harsh voice comes. "Apparently my son, my only son, is a faggot now. What do you have to say for yourself, huh?"
It's quiet for a long, long moment in the room as Todd tries not to start screaming at Ian's dad, or cry, or do something else stupid like hitting a hole in the wall. But then it all stops, because something changes in Ian's stance and the entire room changes with it. Ian stands just a little straighter, like his shoulders find a place further back they have never explored, and his eyes glitter with something Todd's never seen before. He's tall anyway, but he's never been as tall as he is right now. 
"Is that right?" he says calmly. "I didn't think you were that concerned with what your son did, to be honest."
"What the fuck do you mean, you fuckwit? I've given you everything!" Ian's dad screams. "Everything! I've given you a  roof over your head! Food! Money for your stupid violin lessons! This is how you fucking thank me? By fucking some guy? By calling me names?"
Ian is quiet again for a long, long moment. Todd has stopped breathing. He's a bystander now, watching worlds collide. Then Ian nods with the weight of them. 
"Okay." he says quietly, but clearly. "Dad... I think the time has come for you to stop calling me your son. You've given me everything, yes. You've given me abuse. Pain. Trauma. I'm done."
He takes a deep breath as a shocked silence comes over the phone. 
"Yeah." he says again. "I'm finally done. Oh, and dad? It's a viola. Not a violin."
Without another word he hangs up, turns his phone off and throws it on top of the crumpled up jeans on the floor. 
"Toddy." he whispers. "Can we please get to bed now?"