High And Dry

Prove Yourself

not a big cliffhanger here since i already posted two big ones

Ian began to freak out a little inside. He hadn’t kissed anyone like this in seven years. He had no idea what to do.

David pulled away after a few seconds, “I shouldn’t have done that, should I?”

Ian didn’t know what to do.

“Ian?”

He looked at David and sighed, “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Well, we went on a date and you told me I was sleeping upstairs.”

Ian looked down, “The only kissing I can remember how to do is kissing my son goodnight right before bed, which is generally just a forehead kiss.”

David rubbed the back of his neck, “You….you didn’t feel anything there, did you?”

Ian shook his head, “No, but I bet I’ll feel it here.”

He leaned in and kissed him again. This time he really did feel something. He felt a warmness surge through him, as if he was finally dry from a seven year swim through freezing water. He definitely never wanted it to end. Ian felt better than he ever had.

He had to pull away to take a breath.

“Are we official now?” He asked.

Ian smiled, “I think so, but I think we should wait til the whole Mel thing blows over before telling Anthony.”

David nodded, “I understand.”

“But, you can sleep in my bed tonight.”

“I’m assuming you don’t mean with you?”

“I do. Fuck. I mean, in the same bed, but not….sleeping with me.” Ian fumbled over his words, “Dammit how bad did that sound?”

“Not too bad, honestly.”

Ian sighed.

“I get it.” David smiled, taking Ian’s hand and pulling him gently into the room, “You want someone physically there to hold you in a tough time.”

Ian nodded.

Once they were both ready for bed, Ian crawled under the covers and curled closer to David.

He woke up by himself.

“David?” He walked downstairs.

“Good morning.” David kissed his cheek, “Just making breakfast. Anthony’s in the living room watching cartoons.”

“Where’s Mel?”

“In her room, asleep still.”

Ian nodded, “What are you making?”

“Eggs, bacon, biscuits, sausage.” He shrugged.

“I didn’t know we even had half of that stuff.” Ian grinned.

“I went out and bought it.”

“How long have you been up?”

“An hour.” David glanced at the clock.

Ian sat on the counter, “Thanks for staying with me last night.”

“Anytime.” He smiled, “And I mean that.”

“I think Mari will start to miss you.”

He shrugged, “She can wait.”

Ian wrapped his arms around David’s neck, “Can I kiss you again?”

“Of course you can.”

He leaned in and kissed David for the third time. It was great. Ian was finally beginning to remember how to do this properly.

“Just remember, I’m new with relationships. This is only my second one.”

David nodded and kissed Ian again.

Mel came out wrapped in a blanket.

She stumbled back a little when she saw them, “I was totally not expecting that.”

“No?” Ian frowned, “I told you about how we were sort of boyfriends.”

“Sort of?” David grinned.

“That was before the kiss last night.”

“You can’t just put two and two together and get five, so tell me the kiss part.” Mel smiled, “And Ian, don’t say anything.”

Ian desperately wanted to make a 2+2=5 joke, but he held it back. For now.

“Well, we basically just kissed and called it official.” David shrugged.

“Hey daddy.” Anthony rubbed his eyes.

“Hey buddy.” Ian got down from the counter and ruffled Anthony’s wavy hair, “How are you?”

“Good. What about you?” He yawned.

“I’m excellent. Did you see the breakfast Newbie made you?”

“Food!”

After ten minutes of begging, Ian let Anthony bring his food into the living room so he could eat while watching TV.

David went upstairs to get dressed, and Ian let him borrow some clean clothes.

“I’ll have to get used to leaving some here.” He grinned.

Ian rolled his eyes and shrugged into a pair of pants, “You wish.”

“A guy can dream, Ian.”

He laughed and went back down to the kitchen. Mel had somehow gotten a hold of one of Ian’s button downs and had turned it into something that fit her nicely. She was sitting with Anthony, laughing at the stupid things the characters did.

“Alright, Mel.” Ian muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together, “Time to prove yourself.”