The Way You Look At Me Ch. 01

–

As soon as they were alone, Daniel sniffled. "I'm sorry Doctor Corinth. Its just that...I...I-I-I..." He didn't know what he wanted to say, what he wanted to apologize for, or how to even go about doing it.

With a shake of his head, Evan shrugged. "Don't worry about it, and you can call me Evan. Makes things easier." Leaning back in his chair, Evan doubled one leg up under himself and nodded. "Now...tell me who hurt you."

"Tonight, I don't know," said Daniel with a shake of his head. "He had a mask on...I remember that part."

Evan smiled sadly. "Not tonight sweetie. Tell me who made all those bruises and scars."

He had never admitted it before, never considered it, he'd always been too afraid of what would happen if he did. But now, sitting here, with this kind man who was every bit the father figure, he finally let go. "My dad," said Daniel softly, the amount of shame in his voice was heavy. "When I was fourteen, after mom had died, I told him I was gay. He was never nice to me, but that had always just been beatings. After I told him though, they got worse. He said he would cure me of my disease, my 'predilection' as he called it. He said with enough pain, I wouldn't want it anymore, that he'd heard about it on TV, some kind of therapy."

"Aversion therapy," said Evan. There was an angry note in his voice as he nodded slowly. "Its sometimes used in behavior modification, but not like that." He shook his head quickly. "Never like that."

"Yea, well," Daniel shrugged. "My dad never was the sharpest tool in the shed. After I told him, he...he..." Stopping, Daniel swallowed hard and nodded. "He put...things...in me. Like...bottles...brushes. Whatever he had handy, he'd just shove it in there, and I'd let him. I let him."

Evan shook his head. "Its not your fault Daniel," he said softly. "You were underage, and even then, what he did was wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong."

"But I let him," said Daniel. He sniffled as he hung his head. "I let him..."

–

Aiden paced the length of the short hall. Each time he passed the door to Daniel's room, he'd glance at it and stop for a moment, almost willing it to happen. So far, it hadn't worked, and he continued to pace.

"Of course," sighed a familiar voice.

Turning on his heels, Aiden almost flew into his aunt's arms. "Auntie," he whispered softly.

Sighing, Natalia Corinth patted her nephew's back. "I land at the airport and have a phone call from your Poppy telling me that you've rushed off to the hospital, something about life and death, and him wondering if I could come check on you before I drove home." Shaking her head, Natalia took a step back as she looked at her nephew. "What happened, kiddo?"

Staring at his aunt, Aiden swallowed back the tears that were threatening to fall. "I don't know. Someone here called me to tell me that this guy I just met was here, and..." He shrugged slowly. "I don't know. I freaked out I guess."

Nodding, Natalia pushed her long dark hair out of her eyes and sighed slowly. "You usually do. You've really got to work on that, it doesn't do to panic every time something happens." She glanced at the closed door and raised a brow. "Is your father in there? The nurse at the desk said he was up here."

Aiden nodded. "Yea, dad's in there talking to Daniel." He glanced at the door and frowned. "They've been in there for awhile now, and I'd really like to see him, and...well..."

"And you said you just met him?" asked Natalia as she raised one eyebrow.

"Yea," nodded Aiden. "I...well...I delivered this pizza to the wrong address, and he answered." He shook his head as the memory stirred, fresh in his mind. "The place was horrible, like one of those really old, dirty apartments you'd see in a horror movie or something. He answered the door and he just...He looked so sad, so lost. I couldn't just leave the guy, and then his stomach was growling, and I could tell he was hungry. I figured I was going to be fired anyway, so what the hell, right?" The words rushed out of Aiden's mouth as he once more resumed pacing, this time only taking a few steps in front of his aunt. "So, I split the pizza with him, fixed his Christmas lights, and got his number. He doesn't have anyone. No one at all."

Watching her nephew, Natalia smiled slightly. "And now you feel like you need to help him, is that it?" she asked softly.

"Yes!" blurted Aiden. "I need to take care of him." Realizing what he had said, he came to a stop in the middle of the hall and turned towards his aunt, a confused look on his face. "Is that like...weird or something?"

Laughing softly, Natalia shook her head. "In our family? No, not at all." She glanced at the closed door as she heard the latch click. "Remind me to tell you about the conversation I had with your dad when he met your Poppy."

As if on cue, Evan opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. "What's this I'm hearing about my husband and I?"

"Nothing," said Natalia with a smile as she stepped up and embraced her brother. "How are you?"

Hugging his sister, Evan sighed softly. "I'm okay, you?"

"Better, now that I'm home," said Natalia as she stepped back. "Don't get me wrong, studying Inca ruins and especially Machu Picchu is amazing, but I miss hot water, and electricity."

"Mm," nodded Evan. "I don't doubt it."

"Uh," interjected Aiden. "I don't mean to break up this little family reunion or anything, but can I go in and see him now dad?"

Evan had only started to nod when Aiden bolted into the room, the door banging shut behind him. Sighing, Evan shook his head. "That boy, I swear," he muttered.

"I don't know," said Natalia with a smirk. "He reminds me a lot of you when you first met Josh."

Narrowing his eyes, the corner of Evan's mouth quirked upwards. "Is that what this is?"

"I think so," nodded Natalia. "I'm not sure how the other boy feels, but I'm pretty sure your son is in love."

Glancing back at the door, Evan drew in a breath and sighed. "Well...it was bound to happen eventually."

–

Aiden fidgeted as he stood beside the bed, both eyes settled on Daniel. "So...um...are you okay?"

Daniel sniffled softly, his eyes rimmed red as if he had been crying. "I had the crap beat out of me, my place trashed, and now I'm laying in a hospital with one eye swollen shut and a concussion. No. I'm not okay." He turned to glare at Aiden with his one good eye. "I'm a long fucking way from being okay!"

Pinching his eyes shut, Aiden hissed through his teeth. "Sorry, sorry. That was a stupid question. Of course you're not okay. I'm sorry." He slowly opened his eyes, his face set with worry as he looked at Daniel. "I just meant...with my dad coming in to talk to you and all."

Staring at the other boy, Daniel worked his mouth as he tried to speak, his lips pursing for a moment and opening before snapping shut once more. So far, Aiden had done nothing to him, other than try to be kind, even if he did seem to be a little bit annoying. Still, he was nice to him, friendly, and that was something Daniel had not had in a long time, a friend. With his eyes welling up with tears again, Daniel nodded slowly. "Yea, I think so. He seems nice."

"He is," smiled Aiden, the worry on his face finally starting to relax. "He and Poppy took me in after my mom died, and they'd only been together for a year or so. I was nine. My mom is dad's younger cousin..." Aiden stopped, the smile leaving his face as he corrected himself. "Was dad's younger cousin. But its okay! Dad is great, so is Poppy. They love me."

In that moment, with his newly discovered friend telling him intimate details of his life, Daniel decided he had to be honest. "Look," he said, his bottom lip trembling slightly. "B-before you go telling me too much, there's something I need to...to tell you."

Blinking, Aiden tilted his head to the side, his eyebrows coming together in confusion. "Okay?"

Taking a deep breath, Daniel closed his eye and sighed. "I'm gay." He waited for his friend to lash out, to accuse him of coming onto him. When nothing came, Daniel opened his eye and stared. Aiden was smiling, a small confident smile.

"Okay...and?" asked Aiden softly. "In case you hadn't figured it out, so am I. I mean, come on, I did ask you for your number."

"But...I thought you were just being nice!" sputtered Daniel. "Trying to make friends and stuff. You can't be gay."

Shrugging, Aiden plopped himself down in the chair that his father had only just recently vacated. "Well I am. Girls don't do much for me, but a nice round boy butt gets me going every time."

Daniel laughed, a soft relieved laugh that quickly melted into a smile. He was about to speak when the door to his room opened again.

First through the doorway was Evan, followed by a strikingly beautiful dark haired woman who so closely resembled him that she could only be Evan's sister. Last in was a nurse, a small cup in one hand.

"Aiden," said Evan. "Its late, and we should get going. I was due to get off over an hour ago, and your aunt is exhausted from her trip."

The nurse smiled as she moved into the room and extended the small cup to Daniel. "And this should help you with the pain, and let you sleep."

Taking the cup, Daniel tossed back the pills, though he kept his eye on Aiden. After he swallowed, he nodded once. "I...um...I guess I'll see you later?" he asked, almost imploring him to not go. The last thing he wanted was to be alone right now.

"Yea, um," Aiden blinked as he turned and glanced at his father. "Uh...Dad. Could I...uh...could I stay here tonight? I mean...I don't think Danny should be alone, and well, I don't exactly have to work tomorrow."

Raising a brow, Evan shrugged. "Its not ICU, so he's allowed to have someone stay, but its up to him really."

Turning back towards Daniel, Aiden smiled. "So, what do you say, want me to stay?"

The rush to say yes nearly overwhelmed Daniel. Instead, he merely shrugged. "Yea, that'd be great. I'd rather not be alone in the morning."

"Cool," grinned Aiden. He glanced around the room, quickly realizing that other than the bed, he was occupying the only other piece of furniture. "Oh," he muttered softly. "I...guess I'll just sleep in the chair."

The nurse laughed and shook her head. "I'll have one of the fold out beds brought up for you. If there's nothing else?" When there was no answer, she quickly left the room.

Nodding to himself, Aiden stood and made his way over to his father and aunt, giving each a hug in turn. "Thanks Dad," he said.

"Mhm," nodded Evan as he opened the door for Natalia. "We'll talk about the work thing tomorrow. I'll be here in the afternoon to check in on both of you."

As the door thumped shut behind them, Aiden sighed and let his shoulders droop. "Shit," he mumbled.

"What?" asked Daniel from the bed.

Shaking his head, Aiden turned and made his way back to the chair and plopped down. "Its nothing," he sighed. "Just he's disappointed in me again."

"Why?" asked Daniel as he settled back into the bed. "He seems so nice."

"He is," nodded Aiden. "He just wants to see me do something with my life, and I seem to keep fucking it up."

"Mm," grunted Daniel as his eye started drift shut. "S'nice."

Chuckling, Aiden leaned in. "Falling asleep on me Danny?"

"Daniel," mumbled Daniel. "My name is Daniel."

Nodding, Aiden raised a brow slightly. "I'm sorry, Daniel it is."

"No," sighed Daniel as he felt sleep pulling him down. "Can call me Danny. I like it."

With a small smile, Aiden sat back in his chair. "Goodnight Danny."

–

The sun was streaming in as Daniel opened his eyes, both of them this time. With a soft groan he sat up and glanced around the room. Somewhere in his foggy memory, he remembered the pizza guy from yesterday, Aiden who had come to his rescue and stayed with him the night before. Now, as he glanced around the empty room, he thought that perhaps the entire thing had been a dream. There was no spare bed, no sign that another person had spent the night in the room beside himself. He had just about written the whole thing off as a dream when the door to the bathroom opened, and Aiden stepped out, clad in nothing but a pair of sweats, his hair still wet.

"Oh," grinned Aiden as he made his way over to the bed. "You're awake."

Looking at his new friend, Daniel's eyes darted from his face down to his torso, his chest and belly both lightly dusted with hair. "Uh..." he swallowed as his eyes glanced lower, to where the hair spread out at his waist before disappearing into his sweats. "Yea," said Daniel as he glanced back up at Aiden's face. "Yep. I'm definitely awake."

Aiden smirked as he leaned in close. "I bet," he chuckled. "Its well past noon, by the way. My dad was here earlier and said they're going to be releasing you today."

Nodding slowly, Daniel tried to fight the blush that he could feel rising upon his face. He tried not to lean in, tried not to think about the tingling he felt in his groin at Aiden being so close. "T-Th-That's good," stammered Daniel.

With his nose almost touching Daniel's, Aiden smiled as he moved in. "Yea, it is," he whispered. His lips were dangerously close, he could smell Daniel, his soft sweet scent. He desperately wanted to taste him, to kiss him, but that moment was ruined as the door opened up. Jumping back, Aiden whipped around and stammered as he came face to face with his father. "Uh...Hi dad. We were...uh..." he stammered.

Raising a brow, Evan nodded slowly. "I'm well aware of what you were doing, son, and while I am sorry to interrupt you," he held up the clipboard in his hand. "I have Daniel's release forms."

Daniel could feel the heat coming off his face, he knew he had to be blushing. "Oh, uh, thanks."

"I also have some news," said Evan with a slight frown. "It seems the police found something when they were investigating your apartment, and have declared it a crime scene."

"S-something?" said Daniel, the fear rising in his voice. "D-did they say what? I've not done anything to get in trouble."

Evan quickly shook his head. "No no. They said it doesn't have anything to do with you. It was something to do with an old crime, from a year or so ago. You're not in any kind of trouble, but you can't go back to your apartment. I did manage to convince them to bring over some of your clothes and stuff, but..."

"Oh," blinked Daniel. He bit his lower lip as he fidgeted in the bed. "I...um...I don't have anywhere to stay. I guess I can stay at a shelter or something."

"Fuck that," snorted Aiden.

"Aiden..." grunted Evan. "Language."

Aiden shrugged at his father. "Sorry dad. I just mean that's crap. He can stay with us."

Evan raised a brow as he stared at his son. "I think perhaps you should ask me first."

"Its okay," said Daniel with a shake of his head. "I stayed in a shelter before, its not that bad." He swallowed as he thought of the shelter he had stayed at for a few weeks, its single cold concrete room lined with cots. "I'll be fine."

Aiden turned on his father and sighed. "Come on dad. Its Christmas. You aren't actually going to make him go to one of those places, are you?"

"Of course not, I'd just like to have been asked first." shrugged Evan. "Besides, your Poppy and Isabelle already have the guest room set up for him."

Whipping around, Aiden grinned at Daniel. "See? You can stay with us until things get sorted out."

"I...I don't know," said Daniel, the blush returning to his cheeks. "I mean, its very kind of you, but I wouldn't want to be in the way or anything."

"You won't be," said Aiden before turning to his father. "Will he dad?"

With a shrug, Evan stepped forward and extended the clipboard to Daniel. "Nope, not at all. Plenty of space, and what's one more at the holidays?" With a smile, he glanced at his half naked son. "You should get dressed and then go get Daniel's things for him. They're at the nurse's station."

"Right!" said Aiden before bolting into the bathroom, the door banging shut behind him.

Smiling slightly, Daniel took the clipboard from Evan. "Thanks, but you don't have to do this. I'll be okay, really."

Shaking his head, Evan shrugged. "Its not a problem, really. It'll make my son happy, and that is worth more than you know." Sighing, he let his dark eyes settle on the boy. "But really kid...you're not okay. You're far, far from okay, and I think this will be good for you." He smiled slightly as he reached out and patted Daniel on the shoulder. "So just relax, and enjoy it."

Drawing in a breath, Daniel sighed as he nodded. "Okay."

–

The applying of brakes caused Daniel to slide forward in his seat, bringing him awake. Grunting softly, he opened his bleary eyes and glanced about, almost immediately finding the smiling face of Aiden. "Wuzzat?" he mumbled.

Chuckling, Aiden turned off the car. "We're here."

Rubbing at his eyes, Daniel sat up and looked out the window. His brows knitted together in confusion as he saw the large wooden doors that led into a two story brick building. "...Um...Nothing personal, but your family lives in a garage?"

"No," laughed Aiden. "That's the carriage house. That is our house," he said as he pointed through the window.

Blinking, Daniel looked past Aiden, and the still falling snow. His eyes went wide as he caught sight of the big brick house, its two story porch festooned with ribbons and garland, its pillars encircled in evergreen. "Holy...shit. You live here? Seriously?"

Aiden nodded as he grabbed the two bags containing the majority of Daniel's things from the back of his car before opening the door. "Yep," he said as he stepped out into the snow.

Following him, Daniel shook his head as he got his first real look at the house. "This is a mansion!"

"Nah," said Aiden. "Well...sort of. Its an old farmhouse, or at least that's how we've always seen it." He gestured for Daniel to follow as he headed towards the house. "It was built like...two hundred years ago, by one of Dad's ancestors or something. It was a plantation or something. We still own about a thousand acres." He glanced back at Daniel and grinned as he kicked the snow off his feet. "Prepare yourself," he said as he grabbed the handle to the door and turned.

Daniel had just finished kicking the snow off his shoes when he looked up and saw one of the two doors swing open. Inside, a vestibule waited, its frosted glass doors closed. "Uh...okay?"

"Shit!" muttered Aiden. "They never close the inside doors." He sighed as he stepped into the vestibule with Daniel following behind him. Once the outer door was closed, he opened the inner pair with a flourish. "Ta-da!"

"Aiden James!" shouted a voice.

"Shit," groaned Aiden. He glanced into the entry hall and smiled slightly. "Hi Poppy."

With his hair still coal black and his eyes bright blue, Josh stepped forward and shook his head at his son. "Get that boy in here! He's been through enough. Honestly, keeping the poor thing in the doorway, and it snowing outside, what is wrong with you?"

Daniel though was entirely enthralled by the massive fifteen foot tree that filled the middle of the entry hall. Positioned as it was just below the chandelier, there was enough room on either side to walk around it and gain access to the two staircases that led to the second floor. Most of the tree was decorated, thanks in part to the scaffolding that encircled one side of it, and from what he could see, it would be glorious when it was finished. "Wow," sighed Daniel. "Now that is a tree." He grunted as he suddenly found himself being embraced. Blinking, he stared into the face of Josh. "Um...hi?"

Smiling, Josh took a step back. "You must be Daniel. Evan said you were a cutie." He gestured at the stairs leading to the second floor. "We've got you in the room next to Aiden's, and we'll be working on the tree and the rest of the decorating for the day. You can take a nap if you like, or join in. Dinner is at seven." He suddenly whipped around and pointed at the dark haired little girl who stood off to the side. "Isabelle! Put down the Santa!"