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Late evening light settles in the suburban neighbourhood where the Goodman household resides, the air is chilled but not enough to cause anything but a momentary shiver. The resident Goodman's son is sat comfortably on top of the counter—as if grown to be a returning visitor on the spot, kicking his feet back and forth with his heels making a slight rhythm off the wooden covering.
"Get off that damn counter; people eat there." David smiled as he stepped close between Gabe's knees.
"Trust me, my ass is not the worst this counter has seen." Gabe responded obscenely, wrapping his arms around David’s neck.
“Oh, ew.” David immersed himself in the warmth of his boyfriend's chest, owing it to his fad for wearing jumpers, “Did not need to know that…”
The two boys huddled close together on the counter, David content to not remove his head from Gabe's chest and Gabe, who was unconcerned by this—he was always attentive that way, he may be a little shit but he has always been a source of comfort for many people in his life, accepted it easily.
They both eventually pulled away from each other. Taking in Gabe's soft features David's entire spirit softened—God, he loved this boy. He took his hand and stroked it through Gabe's soft brown spikes, snickering when a few strands got caught causing the boy to wince.
"How about we go out later?" David whispered, "Get a couple drinks and enjoy our night."
Gabe peered up into the dimmed ceiling lights and hummed thoughtfully, tipping his head side to side as he gave the notion careful consideration, as David puts it.
"I dunno," Gabe finally spoke up, "We've already snuck out multiple times, my mom's going to catch on soon enough."
Leaning close to Gabe's face, David ducked his head to peer deeply into his eyes. Gabe grumbled and forced David's face away, but swooped in at the last minute to give him a brief kiss on the cheek.
"I am down," Gabe whispered in his ear, "But the drinks are on you, I know you got your paycheck."
Yes, David eventually got past the dread of a job interview; it was a gruelling and dull process that nearly derailed his entire process in improving himself, but Gabe remained steadfast in his duty as a support beam. To be honest, David should be more concerned about how dependent he has grown on the Goodman boy, but when he thinks too hard, all he can think about is how much he loves him.
He nodded resolutely before sneaking his hands down to Gabe's hips, and maybe it was because Gabe was just as enamoured with the boy in front of him that he caught on to what was about to happen too late.
"David—" Gabe choked out sternly, "Don't you dare."
He only got a smirk in response as fingers dug into Gabe's stomach and tickling the sensitive skin there. They were immediately thrown into a cat-and-mouse pursuit, with Gabe writhing desperately to avoid David's assault, who was determined to keep his grip. Gabe's squawk-like chuckles resonated around the home, reflecting off the wooden panelling.
Gabe shoved David away after a few moments, using some force but not enough to hurt the other boy. He coughed and clutched his chest. His shoulders shuddered with the force of the cough, and Gabe jumped off the counter to grab a glass and fill it with water.
He gulped down the richness of the water like a dehydrated man, wiping his mouth of the remaining drips of water before turning to David with a furrow between his brows.
Oops. Too much.
As Gabe recovered from his coughing episode, he opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the jingle of the front door opening. Gabe and David turned to see Diana and Dan walk in the door, carrying pizza boxes.
"Ah!" Diana smiled brightly as she noticed Gabe and David waiting in the kitchen. "Perfect, you boys are already here."
She placed the boxes she was already carrying on Dan's already full hands, causing him to grunt, and rushed over to pepper her son with kisses. Gabe, however, had other ideas as he cowered against the counter, blocking his face from the onslaught of his mother's love.
"Mom. Mom!" Gabe called out as he ducked under Diana's arm, moving to stand beside David, fixing his hair that got mussed up, "I am eighteen, you do not need to bombard me with kisses."
Diana looked at Gabe, a soft—almost sad look passing over her face. She walked closer to Gabe again but laid a soft hand on his cheek.
"Why do you have to grow so fast." She spoke, "Too old to accept his mother's kisses. And you've gotten a boyfriend."
Her eyes casted over David and Gabe groaned,
"You saying that like it is the worst thing in the world." He shook his head and laid a kiss on his cheek, "Love ya mom, me and David are going to take our slices upstairs."
Diana nodded and fixed Gabe's hood and turned around to plate slices of the pizza for the two boys before passing them over, Gabe thanking her and David offering a small nod.
"Gabriel, when you go up give Natalie a call will you?" Dan called over as he was arranging plates.
"Sure, dad."
Gabe took David's hand into his own, ignoring Diana's gaze, and went upstairs. They only halted to let Gabe enter Natalie's room without knocking, resulting in an empty redbull can being thrown at him, causing the boys to laugh as they returned to their room, only hearing a stressed shriek of;
"Knock Gabe!"
In the respite of Gabe's room David, who had grown slightly tense with the entry of Gabe's family, relaxed once again. Gabe smiled slightly, passing over his slice of pizza.
"You okay?" He asked softly, settling up close, cuddling into David's side where they sat on the bed.
David exhales first, automatically taking the pizza, just content to hold it in the moment.
"I'm fine," He rushes out too quickly, catching Gabe's knowing look and sighing out a heavy breath, responding with a more honest answer, “I forget sometimes that other people have whole families attached to them. Who adore your every move.”
He scoffs and shrugs his shoulders,
"It's not bad. Your family is loud." He gestures vaguely with one hand, the other remaining on his place, "But they are loud about their love. Full, and rich. Like everyone belongs and they're happy you belong."
David leans his head on Gabe's shoulder, still riddled with tension that Gabe can feel against him.
“They’re great,” David adds, quieter now. “Your mum looks at you like you are her everything no matter how you turn out.”
He pauses to take a grumpy bite out his pizza, chewing softly as Gabe shuffled—he could never sit still this one.
"I guess it makes sense, you are her son. Duh." David put his slice down and burried his nose in Gabe's neck, "I just feel like an outcast, do not know where I fit yet."
Gabe pats his head, raking his hands through David's defined curls.
“But I’m okay,” he repeats, and this time it’s steadier.
They were silent for a minute, savouring each other's calm. "Hey, I have an answer." Gabe mumbled, catching David's attention. "Hmm?"
"Where you fit." Gabe said, "You fit right next to me."
Gabe's silly ass grin prompted him to adopt the most deadpan expression he could muster.
"You are so stupid." David murmured in a monotonous voice,
"But I am correct, right?"
David paused and reflected deeply on Gabe's features. He still had that dumb grin, and David would be lying if he said the sight didn't heal something inside him.
"Yeah," he replies, "Someone has got to tutor you on the Calvin cycle."
"What would I do without you?" Gabe sighed happily.
"Fail, for one. God knows you do not attend classes enough already."
Gabe shoved David away, before instantly regretting it and pulling him close again wrapping his arms fully around him. The cuddler he is.
"Hey," Gabe broke the silence again, "You still want to sneak out for drinks?"
David could hear the concern in his boyfriend's voice and could not bare it.
"Of course," He responded quickly, "I don't want to miss you getting shitfaced and arguing with grown ass men."
"It is my special talent!" Gabe said proudly, leaning over to put his face in David's, leaning in for a kiss which was reciprocated quickly.
They never ended up slipping out for drinks. Whether it was weariness or the deep love they had for each other, they spent the night curled closely around each other, resting comfortably in the arms of the one who kept them grounded in this world.