Unwholesome Things - Part 15

Beta by Rowan. All remaining mistakes are mine.

A special thank you goes out to JL for sending me thought provoking emails and jogging my memory when I needed it.  

It was bigger than Oren expected. Not that the box had indicated it would be otherwise, but there usually was some embellishment about that sort of thing.

In the past bigger was not better. But now the focus seemed to be on having the largest diameter screen possible while still being flat enough to fit inside a pocket.

“Your parents have allowed your new phone full access to the home network,” Norman said. “If, after a trial period, you are able to show you can be responsible, your computer and gaming consoles will be allowed access as well.”

“Right.” Oren selected the browser icon, and it connected without difficulty. “Because the size of the device determines the amount of damage I can do with it.”

“I suspect they believe this will be of greater benefit to your future career and studies.”

Oren paused to look at him. “Now they think I’m going to have a future career and studies?” He turned his attention back to the phone which was now performing updates. “I thought I squashed those expectations decades ago.”

“Decades?” Norman said, putting extra emphasis on the “s” before adding an incredulous, “sir?”

“Two is plural.”

“Nineteen is—”

Oren rolled his eyes. “If you include the time it took to conceive me, and then nine months of pregnancy. I’m sure I wasn’t living up to embryonic expectations.”

Norman looked as unimpressed with his explanation as he’d hoped. Oren made a gesture reminiscent of a bow, and closed the door to his bedroom.

Now that he was alone he knew exactly who was he going to christen his new phone with. And while he wouldn’t be able to answer, at least Oren could leave him a message.

He opened his contacts and was pleased to discover they’d been transferred automatically—yet another benefit of having internet access.

“Hello,” Rezo answered with warmth. It was nearly enough to make Oren swoon. Nearly. He did have some ability to maintain his composure.

“Hello, boy—” Oren stopped himself from adding “friend” just in time. Even though it was true, and one of the most amazing developments of his life thus far—and not just because he had finally found someone that was willing to go out with him, but because it was Rezo—he suspected if he kept pointing it out he would end up ruining it. As if by reminding Rezo just who he’d agreed to be stuck with might be enough to make him reconsider.

“’Boy?’” Rezo asked.

Of course, that wasn’t exactly the best place to stop either.

“Sorry, I mean, good morning.”

“It’s not morning anymore,” Rezo paused, “did you just wake up?”

“No, I’ve been up for a while.” Oren glanced at the bedroom clock. It was a little past one. He needed to pay more attention to such things, but rather than explain he said, “But if you want me to pretend I’m still in bed, so you can—”

“Stop. I’m working on a research paper—one of three. I can’t let you distract me.”

Oren grinned. “So why aren’t you in class?”

“It’s finals week, so I don’t have regular classes, just exams and all these papers and projects to turn in.”

“Ah.” Oren paused. “Well, since you’re not in class, do you want to—maybe, now that we’re—” there was that concept again, “we’re…”

“Now that we’re what?”

“Better, or—maybe that’s not the right word—”

“Are you somewhere that you can’t talk freely?”

“Um, no.” It occurred to Oren that he was drawing even more attention to the topic by trying to avoid it. “I’m alone.”

“Ok.” Rezo sounded confused.

“I’m trying not to sound presumptuous.”

“And aiming for nonsensical?”

Oren frowned. “I didn’t realize you had to have everything spelled out for you.”

“I don’t need it spelled out for me. But I’m not opposed to a few nouns, and a verb if—”

“You know what I mean.”

There was a pause. “Do I?”

“I don’t want to talk about it in case it’s bad luck, or—or something.”

“What don’t you want to talk about?”

“Us.”

“Ah.” There was a quality in Rezo’s voice Oren couldn’t quite identify. “I think I understand.”

“You do?”

“You want a milk name.”

Oren was silent for a full two seconds. “What?”

“I wrote an essay on those a few semesters back. There’s a very old tradition in China of giving temporary, unflattering names to infants. They’re called ‘milk names,’ and functioned as a form of protection. It was a way to avoid boasting and bringing bad fortune down on the children.”

Oren had no idea how to respond to that.

But Rezo didn’t seem to mind—or notice. “You don’t want to call me your boyfriend for the same reason. So what you need is a better term for what I mean to you.”

“I—I don’t know.”

“Let’s see. I could be your…” Rezo paused for a moment “stalking piglet.”

Oren made a small, involuntary—and hopefully discouraging—sound.

“And you could be my…overwhelming whale.”

“Ah—no.”

“Animal names were common, but if you don’t like those, repeating syllables and female—”

“Stop, just—stop.” Oren closed his eyes. The things his boyfriend said sometimes. “Ok, now that we’re dating, do you want to meet up at the park, or here?”

“I can’t.”

Oren hadn’t expected his response to be quite so abrupt. “Oh, ok.” He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

But from the way Rezo exhaled over the phone line, he might not have been as successful as he’d hoped.

“I need to spend all my time studying.”

“You’ve studied with me before. Many times, actually.”

“I just have a lot to do, and I need to use my home computer to finish a paper that’s due tomorrow.”

That was a reasonable excuse, as far as those things went.

“But after Friday—”

“You expect me to wait an entire week?” Oren said, and it came out sounding more serious than he’s meant it too. He appeared to be getting progressively more transparent, at least where Rezo was concerned.

“It’s only five days.” There was exasperation in Rezo’s voice now.

Oren wasn’t being fair. Rezo wouldn’t lie about how much work he had to do. He decided to lighten the mood.

“Only five days?” Oren said, with a theatrical sigh that reminded him a little too much of his mother. “It’s like you expect me to just be here. Waiting around. Forever…”

Rezo didn’t say anything. Oren was confused. He couldn’t possibly think he was serious?

Oren injected even more drama into his tone, stretching out the important syllables. “But it’s not like you owe me anything, least of all a study session.”

“I owe you more than that.” Rezo’s voice was deep and rich, and Oren couldn’t tell if it was some sort of profession of feelings—or a threat.

His body, illogical as ever, was delighted with either. “How about now?”

“Just let me get my books together. I’ll be at your house in twenty minutes.”

“I was joking, I didn’t mean—”

“I know. But there’s about an hour’s worth that I can do without my computer.”

While that hadn’t been Oren’s intention, he wasn’t going to complain about it either. “I’ll be ready.”

#

Thirty minutes later, Oren was sitting across from Rezo on the floor in his room. He’d offered to share the bed but Rezo had declined. For once he regretted the lack of seating.

“So,” Oren said, despite his resolve not to interrupt Rezo’s studies, “does anyone else know about us besides Jeff and Marikit?”

Rezo sighed, and closed his book. “That’s the third time you’ve interrupted me.”

Oren winced. “I’m sorry, I’ll stop.”

“No.” Rezo put his book back in his backpack. “We need to talk.”

Oren tensed. “I’ll shut up. I promise.” What had he done?

“The timing is bad, but I don’t think we can put this off.”

“Don’t go.”

“Why would I go?” Rezo looked at him, and his eyes narrowed as if he had suddenly noticed something important.

Oren squeezed his eyes shut and leaned his head back against the wall. Why did he have to keep pushing? Rezo hadn’t wanted to date him in the first place because it would get in the way of school, and now he was making it as difficult as possible for him to do his school work. Calling him while he was studying, pressuring him to come over, and now— 

He felt warm hands surrounding his, unclenching the fists he hadn’t realized he’d made. Oren opened his eyes.

There was only concern on Rezo’s features. “Hey, it’s alright.”

“Did you think you were in trouble?” Rezo asked.

“No.” Oren hated how unsteady his voice sounded. “It’s just—I’m not trying to make school harder on you.”

“You’re not.” Rezo’s tone was soothing. “I’ll probably study better if I have a break anyway.” He kissed one of Oren’s hands.

It didn’t seem like something someone who was frustrated enough to leave would do.

Oren forced himself to relax—marginally. “Ok.”

“You’ve been patient.”

Oren frowned in confusion. “I don’t resent you going to school.”

“I mean, with us,” Rezo said, which was only more confusing. “You wanted to know if I’d told anyone else.”

The question seemed much less important that it was when he’d asked it, but he nodded.

“I haven’t. But I’m sure at least Manny, Will, Alyssa, Jessie, and a few others know.” Rezo dropped his gaze to where their hands were joined, and a line formed between his brows. “I’m waiting to tell my parents until after the semester ends.”

He seemed to be waiting for something from him, but Oren had no idea what it was. “It’s ok if you don’t want to tell them,” he said. “I mean, if there’s going to be consequences—”

“I’m not avoiding it.” The furrow in Rezo’s brow deepened. “I just don’t want to have any major upheavals the night before an exam. I’m not trying to hide our relationship.” He squeezed Oren’s hand, and then let go, shifting his posture to put a little more distance between them.

He feels guilty. Oren was so unused to seeing that emotion in people other than himself he almost hadn’t recognized it. Not publicly announcing their relationship probably went against his ridiculous (but noble) sense of right and wrong. Was that why he’d come over despite his better judgment? Because he thought Oren was upset?

“I’m not worried about it,” Oren said. “Even I know that this is the kind of thing that takes tact.”

Rezo made a halfhearted nod, as if he were only half listening. “One of my cousins is gay, and while the family wasn’t exactly approving when they found out, they adjusted.”

“I haven’t told my parents either.”

Rezo’s expression shifted from contemplating something abstract to contemplating something directly in front of him. “I’m still not certain how they don’t know.”

Oren rolled his eyes. “Because of the horns on my head? The brand in the center of my forehead? I know my hair doesn’t always cover it, but—”

“Or the extensive collection of homoerotic artwork taped all over your bedroom walls.”

Or that. “Which was taken down, thanks to you. Besides, you heard my mother. I’m just trying to shock her.” Oren shrugged. “Oh, and it’s a phase.”

“It’s hard to believe anyone can be that oblivious.” Rezo was finally smiling, and Oren was glad to see it.

“They aren’t. Not really.” Oren paused, trying to find a way to explain. “It’s their way of holding onto some small glimmer of hope. Bringing a boyfriend home should end that. There will be hysterics—they think they’re entitled to those—”

Rezo snorted, and Oren shot him a suspicious glance before he continued.

“But they’ll get over it. And then there will be some new thing to be in denial about.”

The way Rezo was looking at him had changed from amused to fond. Oren had no idea what he’d done to inspire that change. But before he had time to really appreciate it, it was gone.

“Do you want me to be there when you tell them?” Rezo asked.

Oren was touched, but he had no intention of subjecting him to something that unpleasant. “That’s alright. I’m not even going to be there.”

Rezo blinked several times, and each time he grew more disapproving. “You’re not planning on leaving them a note, are you?”

And what a note it would be. “No. My family has a filtering system for unpleasant information. Rather than attempt direct communication, we relay everything through Norman. So if, for instance, my father has something he wants to tell me, but he thinks I’ll get upset about it, he tells Norman instead, who then tells me. Then I give my response to Norman, and so on.”

Rezo appeared disturbed.

“I know it sounds cold and distant, but it actually has some advantages. It gives everyone time to have whatever reaction they want in private, without making things worse. Plus Norman’s a lot better at delivering delicate news than the rest of us are.”

The disturbed expression wasn’t fading. “Poor Norman.”

Oren rolled his eyes. “What about me? I grew up with this crazy system.”

“You did.” Rezo nodded solemnly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Rezo leaned forward until his breath skimmed Oren’s lips. “Just that it explains a lot,” he said, and sealed Oren’s protest with a kiss.

Oren decided that Rezo was allowed to tease him as much as he wanted as long as he kept offering consolation prizes like that.

“So when are you going to start your relay process?” Rezo asked after he pulled away.

 Oren hadn’t thought about that, which was odd, since he’d thought about everything else.

“Soon, I guess, since it’ll take at least a week to complete the cycle. Norman will tell my mom first, and then once she’s finished processing it he’ll be ready to tell my dad. He’s always last. He’s less adaptable, and the timing is trickier with his meetings and such. My mom can handle interruptions to her schedule better.”

“I thought she didn’t work?”

“Not, really.” Oren shrugged. “But she does all this other stuff—fund raisers, and clubs. It gets intense.”

Rezo nodded, but he seemed distracted. He stood up and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

Oren glanced at the clock. It was almost three.

“I need to go,” Rezo said. He offered Oren his hand, and while he didn’t need help getting up, Oren accepted it because he liked the contact.

“Do you want to study later this week?” Oren asked.

“No.” Rezo shook his head. “I’ve done most of what I can do away from my computer or the school.”

“Ok.” Oren was proud of how non-clingy he managed to sound this time.

“I want to take you out on Saturday.”

“Out—” Oren stopped next to his door. “You mean like a date?’

Rezo nodded.

Oren hesitated. He wanted to do something—many things—with Rezo, but an actual date? What did that even consist of? Dinner and a movie? Restaurants were usually crowded, and even when they weren’t he still had to talk to the waiter. Half the time he’d panic and order something he didn’t even like—not that it mattered since he’d be so nervous he’d barely be able to remember what he was eating, let alone taste it.

But if he survived that part, the movie could have potential. It was dark in a theater, and if they chose something unpopular they might have a row to themselves, especially if they got one toward the back—

“It doesn’t have to be Saturday,” Rezo said, jarring Oren out of his thoughts, “if another day would work better.”

There was something odd about Rezo’s voice. If Oren hadn’t known better he would have thought he was nervous, which was impossible since he had to know how much Oren liked him. Why would he be worried about rejection? Unless—

Unless it was because he still felt guilty. Maybe a date was Rezo’s way of making it right.

Oren repressed a sigh. Well, if that’s what he was doing he wasn’t going to stand in his way. No, he was going to be awesome about it, even if it meant doing something horrible like dinner and a movie.

“Saturday is great.” Oren forced himself to smile. “What did you want to do?”

“At first I wanted to do the traditional thing, you know, dinner and a movie.”

Oren nodded, and was proud of his ability to only cringe inwardly.

“But then I decided I should make this more about you, and since you always stop eating whenever people are around at the park, even though we’ve been there many times now—”

Oren winced. He’d hoped Rezo hadn’t noticed that.

“I figured a restaurant isn’t your idea of an ideal date.”

“Not really.”

Rezo nodded, looking proud of his deductive abilities. “And a movie wouldn’t give us much of a chance to talk.”

“Maybe not verbally,” Oren saw Rezo’s look but he didn’t stop, “but the language of love doesn’t require words to—”

“Interrupt everyone else in the theater.”

Oren grinned. “I can be quiet.”

Rezo snorted. “I don’t believe that. Although, you could prove it by being quiet now…”

“Ok,” Oren said, and he would treasure the look of disbelief on Rezo’s face for weeks to come. “But for this demonstration, I’m going to need a volunteer.” He hooked his fingers into the waistband of Rezo’s pants and tugged him forward.

Rezo’s warm body crashed into him. He’d expected more resistance. But he had no complaints.

Oren’s mouth sought Rezo’s, and he was thrilled when the kiss was returned.

“I need to go home,” Rezo said, his mouth close enough to Oren’s ear to send little shocks down his spine.

“Just a few more minutes.”

“No.” Rezo pressed a light kiss to Oren’s ear, as if to take the sting out of the refusal.

Oren let his body melt into him. He slid his fingers along the fabric of Rezo’s pants until he found where they were fastened.

Rezo’s hands clamped around Oren’s wrists, and he pinned them firmly behind his back.

Which only made it hotter.

“This really isn’t the time or place for this,” Rezo said.

“It’s the perfect place for this. No one’s home.”

“Norman’s here.”

“He won’t disturb us.” Oren arched his back, rubbing his hips against Rezo’s.

Rezo closed his eyes, a small groan escaping before he let go of Oren, and stepped back.

“That’s not fair,” Rezo said.

“It’s your fault.” Oren grinned at Rezo’s expression. “You wouldn’t let me use my hands.”

“Do you want me to spank you?”

It took Oren a moment to remember that offer wasn’t nearly as appealing as it sounded.

Rezo must have detected some of Oren’s inner struggle, for he just shook his head and rolled his eyes. It was nice to see he was rubbing off on him.

“So about Saturday,” Rezo paused, maybe to see it Oren was going to interrupt. When he didn’t he continued. “I thought we could go to a house museum.”

“A what?”

“The Idwal-Chroma House. It’s only a thirty-five minute drive from here. It was built by this eccentric artist, he was a bit of a recluse, and never traveled much beyond the small town he lived in. It looks like a typical farmhouse, but inside the every surface has been transformed into a work of art.”

Oren crossed his arms over his chest. “And he reminds you of me.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You thought it.”

Rezo leaned forward to give him a soft kiss, but he seemed mostly unapologetic—and undeterred. “It’s surrounded by fifteen acres that have been landscaped with different themes from around the world, although he only read about those places in books. The tour is self-guided, so it would be just the two of us. I could pack a lunch to take with us.”

“It sounds…nice. I think.” Oren reminded himself that he had resolved to be awesome about this. Regardless of what this was.

“I can pick you up at noon.”

“Alright,” Oren said, and he decided the sacrifice was worth it from the way Rezo kissed him goodbye.

After Rezo left he decided it was time to start the process of letting his parents know that he had a boyfriend, and that he was hopelessly, incurably, not-straight.

For once he was glad that Norman liked Rezo.