The Guard To My Sanctuary - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Marco
Two months had passed since the "incident," and Elm was back on track. His condition was a little bit rocky for a while, his emotions would go up and down and he'd stop talking for days on end. He had to go to therapy twice a week which seemed to be helping. A more playful side had come out even though he was still bashful. There was a sense of self-confidence that was there that hadn't been in him when I first found him in that alley. My own personal therapy was going well too. I hadn't had any small episodes in over a month and my therapist advised me that it would be okay to take a pill as needed instead of every day which made me happy and I felt accomplished.
I was sitting on Elm's bed helping him type up a paper on the Philippine-United States war and its importance for our countries relations. I was learning just as much as he was on the subject since I didn't even know the two countries had a war at any point in history. Elm was jumping on his bed while telling me what to write. I typed a lot faster than he did since I had access to a computer for a much longer time than he had. My fingers moved like swiftly over the keyboard pressing the keys necessary to get the words that I needed down.
"In conclusion, our countries have been able to bury the hatchet allowing us to work together to ensure both countries thrive in the modern world," he said jumping up and down. I finished typing and turned in his swivel chair and saw him happily bouncing on the mattress and his shirt riding up enough to see his belly button. He must either have shaved or not be a hairy person because his flat stomach was bare. He had his hair pulled back by a bandana and was wearing a pair of red sweatpants that hugged every curve of his body. I subconsciously bit my bottom lip and quickly released my lip from my teeth when I realized I was staring.
"You hungry," I asked him which caught his attention.
"Well I'm not, not hungry, what are you ordering," he asked.
"Ordering? I'm not ordering I'm cooking," I said with a smile.
"You can't cook, you don't season your food and all you drink is smoothies and protein shakes," he said hopping off the bed with a thud.
"I can cook," I defended myself but earned a look from him that said the contrary.
"Fine then teach me how to make something," I said standing up. He grabbed my shirt more out of habit than need now and days and we walked into the kitchen where he taught me how to properly make a burger and made freshly squeezed lemonade. I was forced to realize that I really couldn't cook. He pulled out seasoning I didn't even know how to pronounce and added them to the ground beef. Since he did most of the cooking I did the cleaning and he went upstairs to take a bath. His dad had to work late tonight so it was just the two of us. I loved being at the Euthenia house because it was nice and homely, unlike my apartment. I finished loading the dishwasher and turned it on and left out of the kitchen cutting the lights off and checked to make sure the door was locked but not latched so John could get in when he came back from work. I walked upstairs and grabbed my toothbrush, washrag, and sleeping shorts and went to the powder room and brushed my teeth and washed my face. I had stubble growing that I would have to cut on Sunday to be within regulations. When I was done I pulled my clothes off and washed my undercarriage before putting on my shorts and gathering my things to leave. The house was cool so I shivered as my bare chest met the air. I walked up the stairs to Elm's room throwing my clothing in my bag and climbing into bed where Elm was waiting. He blushed while looking at my muscular chest that was the product of hours in the gym. I got behind him and turned my lower half to the side since my eleven inches was growing by the second just from being close to him.
"Goodnight," he said as I draped my arm over his lithe body. He always seemed a few degrees cooler than me.
"Goodnight," I said and started to play with his hair even after he fell to sleep. It was so soft and fluffy that it became a game to me. I tried my best to keep the sections sticking up all at the same time without falling.
"Erm," I heard someone clear their throat. I opened my eyes to see John standing over me which would have sent me into shock if this had been the first time. For such a big man he had the quiet walk of a ballerina.
"John is everything okay," I asked rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah but we need to have a talk," he said leaving the room expecting me to follow. I slipped out without waking Elm and walked downstairs to the living room where he was sitting on the couch. I sat in a chair opposite of him and looked at him yawning which caused him to yawn.
"So what's going on between you and my son," he asked taking a sip from a glass that looked like it had a fifth of some brown alcohol. He obviously had a very long day at the station.
"What do you mean sir, "I asked nervously. I knew where the conversation was going but I wasn't ready to have it with John. I could admit to myself that I was really enthralled with everything about Elm. He's funny, kind, caring, smart, and I thought he was beautiful. I even liked him when was emotional and throwing up the week prior due to his period which was a whole other monster. I was honestly scared that despite the connection I knew we had he might still not be able to reciprocate those feelings.
"Do you have romantic feelings for my son," he asked taking another sip.
He was looking at me with his forehead creased and his eyes trained on my face.
"Yes sir I do," I answer honestly.
"I thought so, you look at him the same way I used to look at my wife. You're like his shadow and have made a lot of sacrifices for him. Did you know Elm has started saying your name in his sleep? When you aren't around your name always comes up in conversation. I'm pretty sure my son is falling in love with you which scares me," he said finishing off his glass and exhaling.
'John thinks he's falling in love with me'
"Look I like you and all personally. I can't repay you for the things you have done for Elm as far as getting him into a headspace where he can learn to live his own life for himself and one day become independent. Honestly, I wouldn't mind my son being with you because I know he'd be protected and cared for but I have to tell you something. My son is still fragile he may be jumping around and making jokes right now but we both know the thought of London coming to snatch him away or hurt him looms over his head. Romance and Love are such beautiful passionate emotions but they can turn into something dark and abusive. I know you have your own fight with PTSD that you're going through so I'm a little nervous about you turning on my son honestly. That may be my own ignorance about the condition but those feelings are there. I'm saying all of that to say this," he leaned up in his seat.
"If you hurt my son I'll have no choice but to kill you. Not hurt you, I will take your life and get away with it. My son won't live in a world where two men that hurt him are still breathing, I won't allow it. Do we have an understanding," he asked
"Sir I couldn't hurt your son even if I tried. As much as he's falling in love with me I am with him. I realize that he is still fragile which is why I haven't done anything past be there for him emotionally. If I were to hurt him you wouldn't have to take my life because I'd do it myself," I said leaning up in my seat. He looked at me for a while and I had to fight off yawning. After what felt like five minutes he reached his hands out and I shook it.
"Alright then," he said standing up," I'm going to bed I have to be up in four hours to head back in."
We both walked up the stairs and branched off. Him into his bedroom and closing the door behind him while I walked into Elm's room where he was sprawled out. His shorts riding up his ass just a little. I climbed in behind him and threw the covers back on top of him.
"Where did you go," he immediate asked groggily.
"I went to get some water my throat was dry," I lied since I was sure John didn't want me telling Elm about the conversation we had just had.
"Okay," he said turning over to lay his head on my chest and threw his arm over me. Not even a minute later there were soft snores coming from here.
'Tomorrow, I'll ask him if he wants to go out. His dad said he approves and his brothers have been dropping hints as well. Thalia told me flat out to ask him out the other day so why not. The worst he can say is no Marco.'
I closed my eyes now feeling a little bit nervous about how he might react to me asking him. I put an arm around him and fell to sleep...
"Marco wake up it's eleven I made you some food," Elm's voice awakened me. I could smell and feel his minty breath blowing across my face. I slowly opened my eyes taking in the light of the room. He stood on the side of the bed not next to the wall. He was wearing my sweater again with another pair of his tight sweat pants.
"I'm coming," I said moving my hands over my lap in order to hide my morning wood while I sat up. He walked out of the room which didn't really help with my issue. I started focusing on sports stats. When I had calmed down I crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. I went and stripped out of my clothes put on a random tracksuit and brushed my hair down.
'Now or never.'
I walked down the stairs to see a plate of food waiting on me in the living room next to the note Elm's dad must have left for him telling them he had to go into work early. I sat on the couch and spread my legs out and grabbed the plate with my breakfast sandwich to eat. Elm walked over and sat beside me crossing his legs and turned the television on switching to his favorite show 'Timeless'. I sat there nervously as the woman got help from Houdini in escaping some bad guy. I was just stalling to try and figure out how to ask him and couldn't find the perfect words to use and remembered what my psychologist said in a session three weeks ago.
'Nothings ever perfect, things just happen'
"Hey Elm can I ask you something," I started.
"Yeah," he said hitting the mute button on the remote.
"I know you've been going through quite a bit for a while and I've been happy... More than happy to help you get through it. Over the months I've developed feelings for you that only seem to grow stronger the longer in around you. I know this may not be the best time for you and I'm willing to respect that and still be here when you need me but I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me next weekend we can do whatever you want if you say yes," I said with my head to the side trying to hide my face.
"Are you blushing," he asked me grabbing my head and pulling my face in his direction and giggled all high pitched.
"I'd love to go out on a date with you Marco. I've been wanting to for a while but you probably already know that from that talk you and my Daddy had last night," he said while blushing himself.
"How did you...," I asked.
"You guys weren't exactly whispering," he responded.
"Oh, well where do you want to go," I asked stretching both my arms out and placing them on the top of the couch behind Elm while excited that he said yes. He looked to be in deep thought probably ruling out places that required too much interaction with other people but also places to challenge his coping skills.
"Can you roller skate I never learned how to and would like if you could teach me," he said finally choosing a place after like five minutes of him looking at the ceiling.
"Yeah I can skate I'm like a pro," I said confidently.
"Well I guess we will see then, won't we," he said then leaned into me like he normally did and cut the volume back up on his show.
"Things are looking up."