Author: Jen
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Fluff…sort of. Can you have fluff with angst? Well, this is fluff with angst. The boys deal with a bad day at school.
Disclaimeration: This work of fiction is a non-profit piece, with no intended copyright infringement. I don't own Merton or Tommy, just selected parts of Merton because nobody objected when I claimed them.
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There were times when Tommy wanted nothing more than to sweep Merton off his feet. To wrap one arm under his shoulders and scoop him up like Rhett Butler with Scarlet O'Hara and carry him off somewhere away from the world, or maybe even just stand there and hold him, reminding them both that Tommy could always protect him.
Usually, if he tried it, Merton would swat him away angrily, complaining that he refused to be treated like a girl, leaving Tommy to find another way of pulling Merton into his arms. Sometimes, though, if Tommy could catch him in just the right mood, Merton would happily play along, practically leaping into the taller boy's arms, the back of one hand pressed to his forehead as he sighed dramatically and thanked the Lord for his 'hero'. It was fun, and they would laugh, until Tommy had carried him somewhere else and they could distract themselves from the silliness of it all, but Tommy hoped, and half knew, that there was just a little more to it than that. That perhaps Merton really did want to be swept off his feet, wanted someone to take him away from it all and make him feel safe and protected. Not that Merton would ever admit to needing to be protected, but the need was definitely there, unspoken, but hinted at by Merton and gladly acknowledged by his boyfriend.
It was what he wanted, after all. Protecting Merton had been top of his list right from the very start, and if he could be more open about his reasons now, then that was even better. The only problem was that were things even he couldn't protect Merton from.
Things like teachers who walked by in time to hear Merton insulting a particularly vicious bully, but who never seemed to be around when the bullies had started in on him. He could defend Merton from vampires and demons, but even he couldn't get Merton out of an undeserved detention.
Still, he could make sure he was there when Merton had completed said detention and returned home. Even if it meant waiting in the Lair by himself for over an hour, wondering if Merton had run into even more trouble on his way home from school. Not that seeing Merton again made him feel that much better. The thing that entered the room even before Merton did was… Well, Tommy couldn't think of any other word for it than sadness. It made him push himself out of the armchair as the Goth shuffled slowly into the Lair, and he was across the floor in three strides, and by Merton's side before he'd even closed the door.
He offered Tommy a weak smile, which was painfully transparent, dropping his backpack to the floor by his feet and just standing there, as if that action had used up what little energy he had left. Merton studied the floor for a brief moment before risking a glance up at his boyfriend, and there was enough hurt in his eyes that it even made Tommy ache, just by looking.
Without a word, Merton leaned forward until his head rested against Tommy's shoulder. He didn't even seem able to put his arms around the taller boy, so Tommy did it for him, wrapping Merton in a tight embrace and feeling as if he had to keep hold of him just to keep him from falling over. Tommy knew precisely why he hurt, and sincerely hoped that Merton knew he was hurting too. There was no denying that it hurt: every blow to Merton's dignity was an affront to him too; even the kids at school knew that. Which was probably why they'd been doing it all the more, lately, he reminded himself, even though that knowledge only seemed to worsen the pain. They didn't have to attack him when they'd found out who he was, just his choice of boyfriend, foolishly thinking that Tommy still actually cared about the image they'd built around him.
He felt Merton's breath hitch, felt him shake for just a moment as he let out one silent sob, then shifted enough so that he could scoop Merton up into his arms. The Goth didn't complain. Just wrapped his arms around Tommy's neck and held on tight, as Tommy carried him back over to the chair. He chose the chair only because he'd been sitting there for the past hour, and it was comfortable and familiar. When he sat down, Merton stayed in his lap, hands still clasped behind the taller boy's neck, his head still down. He picked up a slow stroking motion over Merton's back as the other boy began to nuzzle his neck, realising that out of all the things they'd done, they'd never really cuddled like this before. Being treated like a child was right up there with being treated like a girl on Merton's 'definitely not' list, but there were still times when that was what Merton seemed to him. They were both still children, really, barely eighteen and not even out of high school, and all the demon fighting they could fit in between classes couldn't force them to let go of that one last shred of adolescence.
Still, it seemed to be helping Merton, and even though it felt just a little bit weird, he decided it was helping him too. Even if he couldn't defend Merton from everything, he could still be there to pick up the pieces. He could always let Merton know that he had Tommy's love and support, and even if those things couldn't always take away the pain, they would be there a lot longer.
When he realised that Merton's breathing had levelled, enough that the other boy at least appeared calmer, he moved a hand to cup Merton's chin, tilting his head up just enough that Tommy could look into his face and assure himself that Merton wasn't on the verge of any serious breakdown. He'd had that worry before: it was painfully obvious to him, if to no one else, that Merton trod a dangerous path between happiness and depression. Oh, he could hide it well enough for the people at school and, presumably, his parents, since they never seemed to show much concern for their son's well-being, but Tommy could see through all that without even trying. He was the one who was there when Merton finally let the smile drop, when the teasing eased off and Merton was left to deal with it. He was the one who got to hold him and tell him that it wasn't forever, who got to see the tears fade and the smile brighten again.
He watched Merton for a moment, waiting to see if he wanted anything more, but the other boy didn't seem in any hurry to break the silence. So instead, Tommy leaned in, just enough to kiss him, his hand still stroking softly over Merton's back. He felt fingers threading into his hair, scraping gently over his scalp in the way that Merton knew could drive him crazy, and he slipped his hand under Merton's shirt to stroke bare skin. Tommy felt the young man in his arms shiver just a little, then heard him sigh before increasing the pressure of his kiss. He reciprocated gratefully, thankful that Merton wasn't about to break down in front of him and leave him at a loss as to what exactly it was he should do. He didn't complain either when Merton's tongue sought entrance to his mouth, or when the Goth began to fumble with the buttons of his shirt: just relaxed and allowed Merton to take whatever it was he needed.
He knew enough to recognise the hint of desperation in Merton's kiss, though, enough for something in the back of his mind to suggest that maybe this was a little bit more than Merton really needed, but honestly, he wasn't sure if he could stop it anyway. Merton's breath had started to hiss in his nostrils, becoming rapid and heavier as he refused to break away, and the hand that slipped under Tommy's collar applied more pressure than it usually did, but Tommy found that it actually felt good to know that at least Merton was capable of doing this, that he wasn't about to slip off somewhere that Tommy couldn't reach him. So he responded in kind, tracing the contours of Merton's mouth like he needed to learn it all over again, like it was the first time and possibly even the last too, because who knew where Merton would go the next time he had a day like today?
Merton had begun to squirm just a little in his lap, and without thinking, Tommy slid his hand around to the waistband of his boyfriend's trousers. The smaller boy was already half-hard, and with practised ease, Tommy unfastened the button and the zipper, working a hand inside to locate his length and coax it into hardening fully. He brushed two fingers along the underside of it, not ready to settle into any definite action until he was certain just what it was exactly that Merton wanted.
The Goth had finally wrenched his lips from Tommy's, and was busily planting tiny kisses along his boyfriend's jaw-line, his right hand still caressing the skin just under Tommy's collar. Tommy turned his head, exposing his neck further and trying not to make too loud a sound as Merton began to trace swirls along it with his tongue.
"What, Merton?" he whispered, his voice catching in his throat as he felt Merton wriggle a little more in his lap, "tell me." Tommy knew that he really ought to have asked Merton to talk about his day first, so that he wouldn't rush blindly into something that would allow him to ignore the more urgent issue of his misery, but he'd been too caught up himself in just wanting to hold Merton. He felt the other boy still for a moment, but did not cease the trail he was stroking along Merton's erection.
Merton sniffed quietly, before answering, "I hate it," in a hoarse voice that made Tommy tense momentarily. Evidently, Merton noticed it, and tightened his hold on Tommy's shoulders. He nuzzled the taller boy's neck for a while, and Tommy moved into the touch until his cheek pressed against Merton's. "I hate them," he continued, not needing to explain who 'them' was. 'Them' was the kids at school who delighted in finding new ways to torture him, the teachers who either didn't know better or just didn't care, his own family even, and quite possibly dozens of other people whom Tommy hadn't even heard of. All the people who had served to make Merton believe he wasn't as wonderful as Tommy knew him to be.
"I know," he murmured in reply, turning to press a kiss to the other boy's forehead. He heard Merton sigh, and picked up the pace of the movement of his fingers against Merton's cock. "But they don't matter."
He held the smaller boy tighter as Merton stifled another sob, his chest heaving for a second as it turned into a pained hiccough, then kissed him again, this time on the corner of his mouth. Merton responded by shifting so that he could bury his face in his boyfriend's shoulder, clinging to him even tighter, if that were possible.
"They do matter," he answered, his voice muffled by the fabric of Tommy's shirt, but his sensitive hearing allowed him to pick up every word. "'Cause it's not just one person, Tommy, or two or three. It's everybody."
Tommy moved his hand away from Merton's penis, long enough to tilt Merton's chin upwards once more until he looked Tommy in the eye, albeit reluctantly. "It's not everybody. I know you're better than that." He briefly pressed his lips to Merton's once more, then pulled back long enough to fix him with a gaze that hopefully he couldn't pull away from. "They just don't know you, not properly. Not like I do. You're better that that" When he was sure Merton wouldn't lower his eyes again, he dropped his hand back to the smaller boy's cock, this time wrapping blunt fingers around it and sliding his fist slowly down its length. "You're smart…and funny…and amazing," he punctuated each statement with a kiss, "and I love you."
He tightened his hold on Merton's shaft, not complaining when the Goth's eyes slid shut and he arched into the touch. Merton drew a hiss of breath when Tommy tugged just a little too hard, but assured him he was okay by whispering, "Tommy, please," in a voice that Tommy couldn't resist. He released Merton's cock once more, just long enough to lift him up and turn him so that he sat facing away from Tommy, his back against the taller boy's chest. Tommy wrapped one arm around Merton's chest to hold him still, or as still as he felt necessary, and moved his free hand back to Merton's erection, wasting no time in resuming the slow but firm rhythm he'd been working on before. Already Merton was thrusting minutely into his touch, hips shifting in synch with the stroke of Tommy's hand, and Tommy felt the smaller boy hook both feet around his calves, presumably to keep himself steady. A hand snaked around and latched on to his hair, pulling just hard enough to let him know that Merton was losing himself in the physical again.
"You're amazing," he whispered again, his lips right by Merton's ear, and he flicked his tongue over the sensitive skin there. "And sexy, and brilliant, and wonderful," he snapped at every description his mind flashed up, meaning every one of them, "and I love you. I love you so much."
He tightened his grip a touch more, feeling the boy in his lap begin to shake just a little, and opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off when Merton hissed, "please," his hips bucking more violently. Satisfied that he'd said enough for now, he quickened his strokes, running his other hand over Merton's chest to pinch one nipple through the cotton of his T-shirt. He was rewarded with a moan and another, "please," and finally gave up all pretence of seeking to reassure Merton with words, concentrating on the hand wrapped around Merton's cock. Evidently, it was what Merton had needed most of all, since a few more strokes were all it took to set Merton shuddering properly, coating Tommy's hand with warm wetness. The hand in his hair tightened as Merton rode out his climax, before sliding back down to rest on his chest, moving after a moment to cover Tommy's.
As Merton rested, his breathing returning more or less to normal, Tommy retracted his hand, wondering for a moment what to do about the evidence of Merton's orgasm, before settling on licking his fingers clean. On any other occasion, watching that would be enough to set Merton off again, but the Goth's eyes were closed, and Tommy did it out of practicality more than anything else.
When he was done, he wrapped that arm around Merton, holding him a little closer and listening to the sounds of his breathing and his heartbeat as both slowed gently. After a minute or so, he began to wonder if Merton had fallen asleep in his lap, but when he turned to see the other boy's face, Merton twisted too to look back up at him. He offered a lazy, grateful smile that almost belied the hurt that still touched his eyes, but Tommy tried to ignore that, distracting himself by leaning in to kiss his boyfriend.
"Love you," he said with a smile of his own when he'd pulled away. Merton mumbled something in response that Tommy's canine hearing only just made out as "love you too," before using the chair arms as leverage to turn himself sideways, resting his cheek against Tommy's shoulder so he could nuzzle his neck. Tommy stifled a sigh, knowing that it was better for now to let Merton rest rather than try to do anything about the ache in his own groin. Maybe doing this with Merton squirming in his lap wasn't the best idea he'd ever had, but the smaller boy had wanted to be held, wanted to be engulfed in Tommy's arms, and the sensation of being supported completely by him. It probably wouldn't be the last time they did this either, but if Merton felt as bad as he'd looked when he'd walked into the Lair, then Tommy would gladly give him whatever he needed. Especially when he needed it too.
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