Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

7

Gabe made his way home slowly, limping painfully.

The man had enjoyed making use of several of the products in the shop, and Gabriel couldn't help but feel he'd been a little more overenthusiastic in their use than he'd needed to be.

Gabe was almost two hours later getting home than he expected.

To his relief, he found the twins and Phoebe peacefully asleep when he got back.

Putting the money he'd earned into his jar, he made himself a cup of hot chocolate and sank wearily onto the sofa, wincing as he sat. He flicked on the TV and watched the end of an old film, on a low sound and with the subtitles on to avoid disturbing the twins, whilst he waited for Jordan to get home.

As the clock over the mantelpiece chimed eleven, Gabe heard the front door open and Jordan came into the house.

His brother saw the light on in the living room, poked his head around the doorframe, and scowled.

"You didn't have to wait up and check to make sure I came in on time," he growled.

"That's not why I'm up," Gabriel said patiently. "Come and sit down."

His brother reluctantly came and sat next to him.

"What?" He asked, folding his arms and glaring at the floor.

"Good date?" Gabriel asked tentatively.

Jordan shrugged.

"Would have been better if we'd been allowed another hour," he grumbled.

"Well, then, next time arrange a date for the weekend, when you can stay out later." Gabriel saw Jordan open his mouth and carried on quickly. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you."

"'Bout what?"

"Sex."

Jordan looked over at him, his expression horrified.

"I-"

"Sit!" Gabe said sharply when Jordan made to stand up. "I'm not going over the ins and outs with you, for God's sake. I just... I want you to be safe, alright."

He handed Jordan the bag, fighting down a blush.

Jordan groaned in embarrassment when he peeked into the bag.

"Just ... read the leaflet," Gabe muttered. "And... you can ask me questions, if you like... and... use the... stuff that's in there to stay safe... And don't rush her, alright?"

Jordan spluttered indignantly.

"Please, Jordan, just use it. I'm not caring for Baby Jordan as well as Daddy Jordan, alright?"

Jordan stared at him for a moment, before he nodded mutely and bolted from the room.

Gabe laughed at his brother's helpless expression. He watched the end of the old film and staggered up to bed, exhausted.

*

After dropping the twins off at school the next morning, Gabriel did two loads of laundry and somehow found the time to pull the old lawn mower out of the cellar and cut the front lawn.

Promising himself he'd do the back lawn when he got in, he changed quickly, and wandered into town, towards his usual alley.

When he finally left, with one hundred and fifty pounds in his pocket, he couldn't help but fervently wish that the clients of Angela's escort company would like him; anything to get off the streets, he thought bitterly.

But, with Angela's average wage of two hundred pounds per night, and no fixed nights for work, he couldn't see a way to leave the streets entirely, unless he became very popular with the clients. And that wasn't too likely to happen; certainly not amongst the women. Not if he wouldn't... perform for them.