by HJ Welch
“No, Kala,” he snapped.
They had to shout a bit to be heard, but it was worth it. Elion still felt like he was going to pass out, be he was also bursting with pride.
“You’re not filming Elion here,” he said. He slipped his hand against Elion’s and looked down at him. “This show has put him through hell and I won’t take another minute.”
“Blake,” said Jenna, waving her hands in the air. He held the phone away from her though. “Sweetie, we need this. For the show.”
“Screw the show,” said Blake. “That’s it, I quit.” He looked down at Elion. “Unless-”
“I quit,” said Elion loudly. Enough so they definitely heard him over Taylor. “Thanks for the hot, awesome boyfriend, but now it’s time to go.”
“Blake!” shrieked Jenna.
Elion’s own mom came and stood behind where Blake was sitting. She threw her arms around his shoulders though and jutted her chin out. “Cameras out, now!”
Blake held the phone up higher as Taylor went for another chorus and Jodi opened the door.
“Off you go,” she said sweetly, batting her eyelashes.
Jenna looked between her children and seemed like she was going to put up a fight. But at that moment a tall, middle-aged nurse stormed in with a face like thunder.
“What the-” she said faintly. “Out. Now. All of you!”
“No,” whimpered Elion as she pushed her way through to him. “I want some of them here.”
She narrowed her eyes and looked around at everyone as the Taylor song started over again. “You can have two.”
“I need three,” he said.
She sighed.
“Okay everyone except-” she let him point at Blake, Jodi and his mom “-you, you and you. Everyone else, out. If I catch you in here outside of visitor hours again, I’m calling the police.”
They all tried to protest, but the tall nurse – Becky, according to her name tag – was formidable. Elion gratefully slumped further into his bed as she made Kala, Nessa and all the rest march out.
Karyn, bless her, swopped in to give him a kiss on the cheek before she went. “I’ll visit tomorrow,” she said, squeezing his shoulder. Despite her nefarious tactics to get ahead on the show, she was kind of a sweet kid.
The door clicked shut and Blake immediately killed the music and pulled Elion into a hug. “I’m so sorry,” he moaned.
Elion laughed. “That was pretty funny,” he muttered as Becky checked his vitals. She winked at him and patted his leg.
Blake, Jodi and his mom crowded around him, careful not to get in the nurse’s way. “How are you feeling?” Elion’s mom asked.
He shook his head. “Wretched,” he said shakily, trying to smile. He looked at Becky. “Is there anything I can get for that?”
She huffed. “Of course honey,” she said. “You also need to sleep. So you guys get five minutes, okay?”
His visitors nodded as she bustled off to – hopefully – fetch Elion some drugs.
“Did you mean that?” Jodi asked her brother with a smirk. “Did you really just tell Mom to shove it?”
Blake scrubbed his face and his shoulders slumped. “I’m just so tired, you know?” he said.
Elion’s mom fussed with his pillows and swept his wet hair back. “They tried to make fools out of all of us,” she said with a frown. “But what you boys have…” She bit her lip and reached out to take Blake’s hand. “It’s real. Isn’t it?”
“Very real,” said Elion.
“I love him,” said Blake over the top of him. Then he blushed and looked at Elion rather than his mom. “So, um, yeah. We can quit.”
Jodi drummed her fingers against the metal bed frame. “Okay, hear me out,” she said. “But, you guys have a massive fan base.”
“That’s true,” said Elion’s mom. Naturally she knew more about his social media presence than he did.
“You guys are a little bit gay royalty,” Jodi continued. She gave her brother a light punch on the arm and a grin. “So, how about we think of a compromise?”
Elion sighed in relief as the nurse, Becky, came back with painkillers to add to his I.V. “Elion will need to sleep soon,” she warned the room.
He felt the fuzzy, welcome relief almost immediately. “Thank you,” he whispered to her as she left.
“What kind of compromise?” Blake asked. Elion suspected he wanted to finish this talk before he passed out.
Jodi shrugged and looked at Elion’s mom. “How about; you see out this season. Get through the end of year performance. Then you can renegotiate your involvement. Seems to me like Nessa and Karyn would die to be the stars. You could work with that so you could step down from the show.”
That solved one issue, Elion thought. He wanted him and Blake to have some distance from this toxic production and have a chance to flourish as a real couple. But what about their fans? It was beyond amazing to think he was inspiring young queer kids in a way he never saw growing up.
“Could we,” he said. He struggled with his words. Sleep was laying thickly over him. “Do like a thing, like on Twitter or Insta or something. Like…have a presence as a couple. That we did ourselves, and the show had nothing to do with?”
“A vlog,” said his mom, snapping her fingers.
“A vlog,” agreed Jodi.
“A vlog?” asked Blake.
“Video blog, babe,” Elion mumbled. “That could work – just a little thing.”
Blake stroked his hair as he snuggled into his pillow. “The two of us making a video. About what?”
“Us,” said Elion, grinning broadly. “Just, like, being awesome and in love and stuff.” He laughed, the drugs seeping into his system. “Show ‘em all how it’s done.”
Blake smiled indulgently at him. “Wouldn’t that be boring?” he asked.
Elion blew a raspberry. “I’m delightful,” he said as his eyelids drooped. “And…have you met you? You’re, like, uh, the most best and wonderful…”
His tongue was fat and heavy against his teeth. Sleep enveloped him.
The last thing he saw was Blake nodding. “Okay, baby,” he said, his words swimming around Elion’s brain. “Let’s do that.”
30
Blake
The hospital kept Elion in a few more days before letting him home to his mom. Blake visited every day before or after his classes and brought all the presents from his students and their parents to cheer Elion up. The kids were so sweet, hand making get-well cards and buying him candy with their allowance. It warmed Blake’s heart to see how so many of them had accepted him as being Blake’s partner.
A few of the parents had pulled their kids from the classes over the whole Rob debacle. Blake couldn’t say he blamed them, but included amongst them were some of the outwardly homophobic families, so he’d been thrilled to see them go.
Seth was no longer in the picture. According to the cops, Rob had been encouraged a fair bit in his stalker behavior by Seth, who had no doubt been angling for a dramatic finale to the show.
That was enough for Blake’s mom to fire him, but apparently he’d lawyered up and so far hadn’t been officially charged with anything. Blake had heard that he was already out in California, getting ready to make a documentary about eighteen-year-olds who got breast implants as a graduation gift.
Kala had taken Jodi’s suggestion to ease Blake and Elion away from the limelight pretty well. They were in contract negotiations but it looked like after they got through this season, Blake would be allowed to simply teach and Nessa would take the lead on the drama side of things. She and Karyn had already sent him deliriously happy thank you video messages.
His mom had also come around to the idea of their own separate vlog surprisingly easily. She liked the idea of him being on both, even if he’d just be dancing on Feet of Flames.
With Seth no longer calling the shots, he and Kala had been free to make some changes to the show’s cast to fill the spots. Their first stop had been to Mercy’
s house, the girl who hadn’t made the cut despite Blake’s loud protests. The look on her face when he told her she was in the class had made him want to cry, especially when she showed him how far she’d come with practicing all her techniques. Kala got to capture it all on film, and everyone was happy.
That morning, Mercy’s mom had come over with homemade casserole for Elion when he got out of the hospital. She’d also presented him with a pair of beaded bracelets. Apparently, she crafted them herself as part of her online business.
The jewelry was made from healing crystals and she had tailored each bracelet for him and Elion. The little stones represented different things, like revitalizing energy and protection for Elion, and clarity and strength for Blake.
Blake wasn’t sure he really believed in any of it, but they were beautiful. Even better, he loved the idea of Elion and him having something matching to wear. It made his heart sing in a way his voice was never quite able to manage.
He arrived on the Rodriguez’s doorstep for the second time in the past couple of weeks with a camera crew in tow. But Blake had made Kala completely aware that she was only there to film him welcoming Elion back home. Then she and the other guys had to go. Because Blake fully intended to spend the whole night reassuring himself that Elion’s body was fine and no lasting damage had been done.
With Lucy’s permission to stay the night, of course. He was going to show her what a model son-in-law he could be.
She was the one who greeted them at the door. The affection in the immediate hug she gave Blake brought a lump to his throat.
His own mom seemed to be under the impression that the last few days had been all about her. She’d been wailing to anyone who would listen about how she was going to be in therapy for PTSD the rest of her life.
That had pissed Elion off no end. Primarily because the hospital nurse Becky had pulled him aside and suggested that Elion was going to suffer with exactly that after his ordeal.
He had mentioned that to his mom largely in a bid to get her to stop overreacting and being selfish. She had stunned him though by seriously considering his words. “You boys will probably need counseling even more than me,” she’d said, without there even being any cameras around to capture her philanthropy. “If you want to see a specialist together, I’ll get your father to pay.”
Blake’s dad still wasn’t speaking to him. After his disgusting outburst on the day of the bomb, he was either too angry, too proud or too embarrassed to apologize. But Blake didn’t really care. He meant what he said about not jumping through hoops for him anymore. And if he paid for therapy so Elion could heal and move on the best way possible, then Blake would take that as recompense for all the times he’d made feel Blake less than a man.
He’d never been close to his dad, so he wouldn’t miss a relationship with him if he wanted to continue being an ass.
Lucy was thrilled at the casserole and took down Mercy’s mom’s number to get in touch to say thanks. She was so effortlessly friendly, it was inspiring.
Kala filmed Blake heading down to Elion’s bedroom to present him with the gifts from school and a big hug. Then they were done. He watched on as Kala shooed the camera crew out the door, and Lucy loudly announced she was spending the evening with her PFLAG friends and for the boys not to wait up.
Within five minutes, Blake and Elion had the house to themselves. Blake’s heart started racing.
Elion looked so much better than he had the first couple of days in the hospital. The color had come back to his cheeks, and once he stopped being so drowsy and the pain wore off, his lovely smile had returned.
“Hello stranger,” he said when Blake had successfully chased everyone else away and returned to his bedroom. Elion was dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt and propped up on about a dozen pillows and snuggled under several blankets, despite the fact it was a gorgeous spring day outside.
Blake wasn’t sure he’d seen a cozier, more inviting sight in his life. He kicked off his shoes and crawled under the covers, taking him into his arms and kissing him softly.
“Can I please look after you?” he asked.
It had been torture only being able to hold his hand since the attack. Even the few kisses they’d been able to steal when no one else had been around had done nothing to ease his desperate need to check Elion’s body over for himself. He had to make sure it was still perfect, even though he’d only sustained superficial cuts in the blast.
Elion cradled his face and they looked into each other’s eyes for a moment. “You’re always the one looking after me,” he said.
“Not true,” Blake insisted. He thought of all the many ways Elion had cared for him already in their short time together. “But right now, all I need from you is to make sure you know how loved you are, and how fucking thankful I am that you’re still in one piece.”
Elion bit his lip. “Okay.”
Blake took things very slowly so as not to aggravate the concussion Elion was still getting over. For a while they just kissed gently, their bodies sliding down the pillow pile until they were lying down facing one another.
Only when Elion began to whimper for more did Blake give it to him with a chuckle. “Such a brat,” he teased.
“I’m the patient,” Elion pouted, a playful glint in his eye. “I need treatment. From your cock.”
Blake laughed so loud he was immensely grateful they had the whole place to themselves. But he was also feeling turned on and possessive, wanting to claim every inch of Elion’s skin as his own.
He started by peeling his t-shirt off and sucking his nipples like Elion had done for him in L.A. He moaned and arched into Blake’s mouth while his hands roamed over Elion’s sides and along his arms. It was fairly obvious that under his sweatpants Elion wasn’t wearing any underwear. All it took was to slip his hand under the waistband to find that gorgeous rod of hot, velvety skin.
Blake’s own cock was filling and straining against his jeans. But he ignored it for the time being, enjoying the friction of his arousal against his clothes as he stroked Elion’s dick and kissed his mouth.
He murmured nonsense that would probably embarrass him horribly post orgasm, but he didn’t care. He told Elion how gorgeous and perfect he was, how badly he needed him, how he would always be there and never let anything bad happen to him. All the while Elion allowed himself to be touched and beautifully turned on by Blake’s hands and lips. It was heaven.
Blake disposed of the pants soon enough then hastily divested himself of his own clothes without emerging from under the comforter. He carefully nudged Elion onto his side so they were spooning.
He’d planned to fuck him again, but he got caught up cuddling and kissing the back of his neck. His cock slid naturally between the top of Elion’s thighs, rubbing his erection against his taint and balls in the most amazing way. He reached around to stroke Elion’s dick again, sucking on his earlobe as he did.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
Elion let out some sort of squeak in response. “Don’t stop,” he managed to utter.
They could fuck later, Blake decided. This way they didn’t have to pause to put on a condom, and he was all in favor of carrying on at this juncture. He could feel his climax building.
They rocked together underneath the comfort of the piled-up bedding. They were overheated and gasping for air, but also cocooned and safe. “I love you,” Blake whispered into Elion’s hair. “Love you so much, baby.”
Elion came all of a sudden over Blake’s hand and into the sheets. “Sorry,” he said with a nervous laugh once he caught his breath.
Blake kissed his cheek. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
Elion quickly used his t-shirt to mop up the mess as best he could. Then he turned to face Blake, rolling him onto his back so he could spoon up to his side.
Despite Blake’s insistence that he wanted to look after Elion, Elion was determined to do all the work to ensure he got his orgasm too. He fished some lube out of his bedside drawer
to make his fingers nice and slippery while he jerked Blake off, kissing his mouth hungrily and swallowing up his needy groans.
“I love you too, baby,” he said. “Want to watch you come. Show me I’m the only one allowed to do this.”
Blake was teetering on the very edge, but he still cupped Elion’s face with his hand. “The only one, Elion,” he said. “I’m all yours. You’re mine.”
Elion kissed him even harder, speeding up his hand and milking Blake’s orgasm from somewhere so deep inside him he felt like his spleen might shoot out his cock as well. He cried out, his vision going white then black as he caught his breath.
Elion chuckled to himself over the mess they’d made. Blake watched sleepily as he insisted on cleaning him up. It felt like such a tender act, even more intimate than the sex they’d just had.
They rearranged themselves on the dry side of the bed. For a while, they simply lay in each other’s arms, eyes closed, not quite dozing but resting peacefully.
When Blake was around Elion, he felt whole. Complete. He wanted to ask if Elion felt the same, but the way he wound his limbs possessively around Blake’s body told him he probably already knew the answer.
“I’m going to get my own place,” he announced suddenly.
Ever since he’d said it to his dad during their argument he knew it was the only way forward. Now he’d renegotiated the terms of the show he just wanted to focus his energy on dancing and teaching. No more drama.
He couldn’t do that with his dad breathing down his neck about being too queer and tarnishing the family reputation.
Elion looked up from where his head had been resting on his shoulder and smiled. “That’s wonderful, babe.”
Nerves flared through Blake’s insides, but he’d thought about this enough over the last couple of days. “I was wondering if you wanted to move in somewhere together,” he asked.
Elion’s eyes widened comically. Well, it would have been funny if Blake wasn’t so terrified.
“I know it’s fast,” he said hastily. “But I don’t care. Carpe Diem.” He lifted up Elion’s wrist and kissed the tattoo of the phrase there. “I almost watched you die.” A lump rose in his throat. It was very hard to say that out loud. “I don’t want to tiptoe around when we could just be sharing a bed and making breakfast and watching TV and literally have sex whenever we want-”