Noah & Navid

Chapter 38- A Nice Persian Wife

I always wake up first, and usually snuggle into Navid's arms and play quietly on my phone. I was just rousing though when I heard the doorknob turn slowly. 

I was on Navid's chest and didn't awaken to the fact that someone was coming in until I saw the door crack open and his father's head peak in. Navid was sound asleep and snoring heavily. He has a loud, rhythmic snore that my mind finds comforting for whatever reason.

The bed wasn't too far from the door since this was the smaller bedroom. In my daze, I just looked up at Navid's father as he took in the room. 

His eyes found mine and I realized what he was seeing. I started to push off of Navid, but he shook his head like he didn't want to wake up his son. He didn't seem at all surprised to find his son shirtless and holding a shirtless blonde boy against his chest.

A small smile crossed his lips as though he thought we looked sweet. I was stunned and didn't know how to react. I was sure my face looked full of fear. I didn't move.

"Go back to sleep. I didn't mean to wake you," his father said to me.

"I'm awake. I was just cold and he's so... warm," I tried to sound convincing as though our embrace was borne of necessity or was something I had done without Navid's knowledge or participation. I needed to protect his son's masculinity. I was the lost boy his son had saved. 

"We cannot figure out his coffee machine... so many buttons," his father responded, again ignoring my compromising state.

"Oh! I'll come down. Just let me put some clothes on," I whispered. 

Navid had one of those expensive machines where you put the little pod in and then it makes a fresh cup of whatever you want. He loved it and it was one of the few things he did in the kitchen.

"Don't rush! We will survive," he whispered and laughed. 

He was completely comfortable with what he saw. Was that just how Middle Eastern culture was? Guys were so comfortable with each other that they even slept in each other's arms? That couldn't be right. 

He closed the door and I gave Navid's furry chest a light scratch. I was amazed he had slept through all of this just snoring happily.

I went to wiggle out of his arms though and he stirred from his sleep. His body knew when I was on the move and it always woke him.

"Baby what problems?" he said in a foggy yawn.

"Nothing. I'm going to go help your parents with the coffee maker. I hear them moving around," I whispered and pet his chest soothingly.

"Ok, you very sweet my love. You help me so much," Navid praised with a yawn. 

He closed his eyes and pursed his lips to await my morning kiss. I gave it to him and then got out of bed and found some clothes to pull on. He rolled over onto his stomach and hugged my pillow. His snoring returned within seconds.

I didn't tell him about his father coming in and finding us like that. I remembered how angry he had been, back when I told him I thought his father suspected we were together after the video chat over the Christmas break. 

For him, his parents finding out he loved a boy was the end of the world. He fought so hard for their approval. It was everything to him and I didn't know how far he'd crack if his armor was ever pierced. It wasn't like with my father who had figured me out early and worked hard to make sure I was ok with who I was.

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I went downstairs to find them holding empty coffee cups and chatting happily. Navid had put out some of the local Persian language newspapers and magazines for them and his mother was thumbing through one.