His Stepfather, Dearest | MxM

seven

"Kyle?"

I look down at the guy I haven't seen since the time we were in the club. He had a couple tattoos on his arms, and he now had a buzz cut. His eyes were set on me in shock and we both almost didn't recognize each other.

"Desmond, right?" Kyle repeats, and I nod excitedly. "You look much different. Way bigger."

"Yeah, I'm surprised you remember me."

"Why would I forget you? You're the one who paid for the amazing meal that night. Not to mention...you were locking lips with someone." His eyes flicker onto Fabien so fast like he didn't even want to look at him. "And that person happened to become your stepfather. That's so ironic."

When I look over at Fabien, the tips of his ears were red. He looked annoyed and I could probably guess why.

Kyle is probably the only person that knows what we did back then. No, he is the only person that knows besides the both of us. He can't really do anything with such information since it's just hearsay, but he knows enough.

Fabien began to snicker, leaning his elbow on the counter. He looked at Kyle with a smile but his eyes were telling enough. Telling that he wished Kyle would disappear right before his eyes. Maybe even disappear off the face of the earth.

"And you're the kid who used Desmond to pay off your meals that day. What horrible friends."

"True," Kyle shrugs, and he didn't even argue with Fabien. "What are you here for? Don't tell me you're here with your stepfather to get a tattoo."

"I am, yes." I smile, watching Kyle look away from me as he began to grab a clipboard and pen. "I am interested in-."

"Wait."

Kyle flicked his pen off the both of us, his eyebrows furrowing in.

"You're choosing for him?"

I nod, seeing Fabien become more and more upset in his own silence. "I am. Do you know the red spider lily?"

Fabien grabbed my arm tightly, pulling me down closer towards him. His eyes narrowed upon me and I saw him begin to look at my lips.

"What the fuck is that?"

"It's a flower," Kyle speaks before I could, Fabien not even looking at him as he still glared at me, "the flower that symbolizes reincarnation and helps guide the dead to the afterlife. It's mainly for those who passed away, these flowers survive well in cemeteries and are poisonous."

"You're trying to put the symbol of death on my fucking back - are you serious?" Fabien hisses.

I grin, pulling away from him despite his harsh grip. I look back at Kyle and saw him looking between the both of us with much displeasure. Anyone who knows what's been going on...knows that the way Fabien and I are behaving isn't normal.

My sisters...I can't let them find out about this.

"It's not the symbol of death. It is the symbol and mark between the living and the dead," I look back at him as he was red in the face, "and you...truly know where the middle lies when it comes to that. Wouldn't you?"

Fabien scoffs, turning away so fast as he rushes out of the shop. His retreating back heading towards the car. I look back forward, grinning down at Kyle who was watching him retreat with annoyance.

Eventually his eyes moved off of him and onto me. "You are not the same Desmond I knew back then, 'Sir Vance'."

"No, I'm not." I affirm, looking around his tattoo parlor. "And neither are you. Never did I think you'd own a tattoo parlor and look so grunge. Is that the word?"