'We'

Chapter Twenty

Felix stared up at the house. Modest. He liked it. Nothing like his own, of course - he missed that place like hell - but this was something. And after all, this place had Erik.

"You're sure your mother won't mind me staying here?" He asked, pulling his eyes away from the building to glass at Erik. The other man had been watching him, but Felix noticed with a spark of happiness that he didn't blush when they made eye contact. He had been taught well.

"She'd do anything to stop me moping around," he remarked with a grin.

"We could have just stayed at my place," Felix insisted, turning back to face the house. He didn't want to let on how excited he really was.

"It's times like this that family are most important," Erik sighed, looking over finally at the door. "Besides, she wanted to meet the man who made me cry. I think Jacob wants to ask for advice."

Felix laughed gently, face raising a smile as he looked at Erik. He became distracted by the man's features, losing himself in Erik's eyes. He still didn't understand him; why he had forgiven him, or how he trusted him. He pushed the thoughts away - if Erik wanted him to trust himself, he would.

The taller man shook his head, breaking them both from the spell. He gazed back over at the house, taking in a deep breath.

"Let's go," he demanded, grabbing Felix's hand and pulling them onwards. The brown-haired man smiled as he was tugged towards the door.

The pair waited with baited breath as Erik knocked on the door with his free hand. Neither was sure how Erik's mother would react. Felix jumped as the door clicked.

A woman appeared from behind it, long hair an identical shade to Erik's. She looked across at the pair with a blank expression, taking in all of Felix. The shorter man grew more nervous by the second, grip tightening on his lover's hand for support. For all his dating experience, he was painfully inexperienced at meeting the parents. He never realised something could be so terrifying.

Finally, Erik's mother made eye-contact.

"You're pretty good looking. Are you sure you're gay?"

"Mum!" Erik exclaimed, pushing past her in agitation, dragging Felix along behind him. He pulled the man into the kitchen, depositing him by the table as he reached for glasses. Erik's mother, who had tailed them, let out a laugh.

"I was just asking," she defended with a smile, eliciting a nervous laugh from Felix.

"Quite sure, ma'am," he replied happily.

"Enough with the formalities," she corrected. "My name is Melissa."

"Melissa. Alright. Nice to meet you." Erik handed him a glass of water as he spoke and he accepted it gratefully, holding eye-contact for a moment.

"So what's up with your leg then," Erik's mother asked, nodding her head towards Felix. The man looked down. He had decided not to try and hide it. His shoe was off and his trousers rolled up slightly, revealing the metal. If this thing he had with Erik was ever going to work, it had to begin with honesty.

"Upper leg amputation. Messy stuff," he replied with a wink, taking a swig of the water. "Can I have a house tour?"

Taking him by the hand, Erik led him silently out if the kitchen. Melissa left them alone as they made their way around the house, giving Felix time to settle in. None of them was sure how long he would stay.

"And here's Jacob's room," Erik continued once they had made their way upstairs. He reached out a hand to push the door open, discovering Jacob on the phone.

"He can fuck right off," the boy demanded, removing the phone from his ear to glare at Felix.

"Oh." The small noise escaped the brown-haired man's mouth. "Seems I'm in someone's bad books."

"The only person allowed to make Erik cry is me. Do it again and I'll actually kill you."

"Noted. I don't plan on it."

Erik stuck his middle finger up at his brother as he walked away, and Jacob mirrored the action. Felix hesitated a moment, glancing hesitantly between Erik and Jacob.

"I do mean it," he insisted quietly, facing the younger boy. "I hope there's no bad blood between us." Jacob stuck his tongue out.

"You're dating my brother;  there'll always be bad blood between us. Just leave before I change my mind at forgiving you," he demanded, rolling his eyes. He smiled at Felix, however, and the man nodded before he walked towards Erik.

The taller man was waiting for a few paces ahead of him, before a different door. His hand rested on the handle, and Felix looked over at the room. Erik seemed to hesitate.

"You don't mind staying with me, right?" he asked sheepishly, and Felix blushed at the cuteness of it.

"I wouldn't want it any other way."

Erik smiled, looking down slightly in his embarrassment. Felix was amazed at him, at the expressions he pulled. He was amazed that anyone would forgive him. No one had done that before. He had almost given up on hoping for it.

But maybe that was why he did it. Because he still had hope.

"It's not much," Erik insisted, shrugging. Felix had barely noticed that they had entered. He looked around now, at the beige walls and brown floor. It didn't look like a room that belonged to Erik.

"It's-"

"I've never stayed here much," he muttered, dragging a finger along a dusty windowsill. "My mum moved here after I'd got my own place."

"I see," he muttered calmly, taking a seat on the bed. One of its long sides was pressed against the wall, just the same as in Erik's own flat. "It's nice."

Erik sat down next to him, and for a moment the two men stared at each other. Felix blinked, noticing the water forming in his companion's eyes.

"Why are you crying? I told Jacob I wouldn't do that again."

"Because I'm scared," Erik replied honestly. "This has never happened to me before. I don't want to lose it."

Felix looked down. He couldn't offer any words of advice to Erik. All he could do was explain.

"I didn't mean to fall in love with you," the barista stated, eyes darting up again to catch Erik's. "I never meant to."

"I didn't either," Erik continued.

"No, but I… I was doing it to play with you. To feel in charge."

"And are you anymore?"

"No," Felix replied. "No, I don't think I am."

Erik raised a hand to cup Felix's cheek; to force them to stare into each other's eyes. He had stopped crying, although his eyes were still red.

"Erik!" A sudden voice broke into their silence. "Felix. Do you want lunch?"

Erik looked over his shoulder at the door - at the place where his mother's voice had sounded - and then back at Felix. The other man nodded, smiling. They stood in unison, and Erik took Felix's hand as they made their way downstairs.

"I'm not lying," Felix whispered close to his lover's ear, and Erik shivered. "I love you."

"Yeah," the other man choked. "I love you too."