Variegated (boyxboy)

[12] Family.

     Mr. Grimerson hooked a finger through the loop of his tie and loosened it as he took the last step of the row, reaching his floor.

     His shoulders went from rigid to slumped down, spine from straight to hunched, hands from his back to his pockets, hair from behind ears falling into his line of vision.

     He walked like that- not in a tired fashion, not in a miserable one, he just walked like there was nothing in him.

     At one point, the headmaster passed by Oliver's room and didn't even stop to consider the moans he recognized as the man's and William's, he just kept going, dreading to enter an empty room and spend a lonely night.

     So, he decided not to.

     Instead, he went to Quin's. Once there, he knocked on the door three times and waited a couple seconds before entering.

     Truth be told, he's had quite enough for the evening, or so he thought. Therefore, he was surprised by the sudden fury that flooded his body, despite the previous dull nothing he'd felt.

     And yet, he just closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose, which he was pinching in attempt to calm down. Leaning on the door frame, he waited.

     "He just doesn't have a place to sleep at, Oliver is busy." Quin justified, pointing at the man sitting next to him on the double bed.

     Adam scratched at his hair awkwardly.

     "Go sleep in my and William's room. It should be unlocked." Grim ordered with a strained voice, opening his dark eyes to glare at him.

     Quin tugged Adam back just as he was about to stand. "Oh, think you can order him around because you're a principal ? Well, despite the fact you don't consider me principal enough to tell me why we're suing a worker, I am a principal as well, very much so, and my order counts as much." he calmly argued, turning his head towards Adam. "You may stay."

     The adult kept his hand in his dark hair as he considered the situation. Between Grim's authority and Quin's greed to prove authority, he had no idea what to do.

     "Adam. I will waste no time in expel-" Grim stopped abruptly, closing his eyes in frustration. "Just... just leave."

     The man's eyes widened at the plead, and he could only tug the blanket away and stand up. He didn't wish to let go of the comforter, considering the little clothes he was wearing, but he did, before awkwardly dressing up while Quin glared at Grimerson and Grimerson at the floor.

     Once the adult had left, Quin slumped down on the mattress and scooted to the middle, making his point very clear by taking up as much space as possible.

     Grim slid his tie off and carefully placed it on the dresser, then unbuttoned his vest, cuffs and the top of his shirt. With that, he sat down on an armchair and made himself comfortable, then watched the man on the bed, the man watching back.

     The moon outlined Grimerson's sharp shadow and lightened Quin's soft features as they stood in silence for an indefinable amount of time, just listening to each other's breath, both of them basically waiting for Quin to drop his act.

     Despite shifting and rolling around, Quin couldn't get himself to sleep. He thought it to be because of the gaze set on him, but he knew it was because he merely couldn't let Grimerson spend the night like that, on the armchair.

     With a defeated sigh, he scooted to the edge of the bed, not muttering a word.

     He listened as the blanket rustled and felt the mattress dip, sensation followed by that unique warmth one could only feel from a specific other. Despite wanting to be wrapped in that warmth, as he would be every night in their cousinly-love cuddle, he respected the invisible barrier at the middle of the bed.