WHO: Santi, Chelo, Arturo, and Santiago Sr. WHEN: February 21 WHERE: The Luna-Quiroga Home SUMMARY: The dads had to find out eventually... CW: It does get a little spicy. "chelo is the unwholesome part of it"
When Santi had pecked him on the mouth during the party, Chelo had thought he was just being shy and sweet. When Santi said heād read a few books about kissing, heād thought that was a jokeā¦at first. But Chelo was beginning to wonder if he had mistaken something somewhere along the line about how experienced Santi actually was. It was a thought that came to him as he wove between cars on his scooter on his way to Santiās home. If that was true, he might need to be careful about checking in and then double-checkingā¦to make sure Santi really was okay with things.
Though presently, lying on his side on Santiās bed, he thought things were probably going well. The door was locked, the afternoon was long, and the room was warm and smelled pleasantly of Santi. He had noticed that he liked the smell of Santiās roomāof Santiāmany times before but had always been careful to tuck that away before any other thoughts could build on it. Now, though, he let himself indulge in the pleasure of inhabiting Santiās space, and he let himself indulge, too, in running his knuckles along the line of Santiās neck and shoulder, smiling at him from a distance that made him look a little like a cyclops.
āI like this,ā he said. Time and privacy and Santi. There was nothing not to like.
At least not yet.
Santi could barely bear to look back at Chelo when he was so close like this, but he endured through his bright red cheeks and even made attempts to look at him in the eye even if it made his heart race. It wasnāt like he had much of a choice when they were so intimate and close. It made him feel seen, and he hated that, but it wasnāt so bad when it was Chelo.
He let out a soft shy laugh because the touch tickled but it was so nice, too. āYouāve been in my bed a lot beforeā¦ā In an attempt to be less shy and boring, Santi leaned in to press a quick peck to Cheloās lips.
Chelo bit his lip, grinning. āI guess I might have once orā¦ā He stopped, though, at the peck, chasing after it with a softer, longer attempt at a kiss, making Santi release a soft noise. Not open-mouthed yet, because he was still thinking about the idea that had popped up on the ride over, but still inviting. His fingers moved over the slope of Santiās shoulder to his arm. āTell me when to stop,ā he said, lightly running them over the substantial curve of Santiās bicep. He had always wanted to touch them like thisāthough heād considered it, somehow, a dark secret. He tugged at Santiās lower lip lightly with his own, testing those waters, too, and that made Santi make another sound. He could remember how tantalizing Karim had been, that first time, showing Pius what he liked, and he thought maybe Santi might like something lighter and more teasing, tooā¦ Or at least, if not, then it would be a much less overwhelming way to approach himā¦
Santi liked being touched by Chelo. A lot. It didnāt really register that he could tell him to stop because he didnāt want him to. Abruptly, however, he chickened out with a squeak, pulling back, grabbing a pillow to hide his face behind it,
He was starting to kind of get how maybe Karim felt way back thenā¦ The little noises Santi made, his adorable faceā¦ Chelo didnāt normally feel such stirrings, but he had to admit he was having a certain curiosity in that moment. That is, until Santi suddenly went to hide behind his pillow, and he pushed himself onto his arms, rolling onto his stomach. He tried not to laugh, but it required a lot more lip biting to achieve.
āYou are so cute, itās kind of driving me crazy,ā Chelo admitted. āAre you embarrassed? Orā¦just too much? We can stop and do something else if you prefer. Just hanging out is fine.ā
Sighing softly, Santi peeked from behind his fluffy Pokeball pillow, but only half of his face as he looked at the other man who was laughing. āItās a little bit of both,ā he confessed, showing the rest of his face as he hugged the pillow to his chest. āMostly embarrassedā¦ youāre touching meā¦ā
Chelo opened up his hands, his arms somewhat pinned beneath him, and looked at his palms against the bedspread. āEmbarrassed because I was touching you?ā he asked. āSorryā¦ā He considered a moment, his brow creasing as he thought. āIs it embarrassing becauseā¦you think itāsā¦ā His mouth worked as he tried to think of a diplomatic way to phrase it. ā...immoral?ā
Santi shook his head. āOf course not, silly.ā He chuckled, his grip on his pillow loosening to lightly hit Chelo with it. āLove is beautiful, itās justā¦ well, youāre touching me, soā¦ā It didnāt even make sense in his head, so how was he supposed to explain it?
Chelo nodded, though his head still had a dog-like tilt to it as he tried to understand what it was that was alarming Santi. He rolled onto his side, bringing up his arms to defend himself from the pillow, though his punishment was brief, and then he just laid on his back, linking his hands over his stomach and contemplating the ceiling. āI am touching you,ā he agreed. āIā¦ Youā¦ Um, thatās not a thing for you, is it? I guess itās okay if it isā¦ I mean, everyone has their things, so if you preferā¦um, to watch, thoughā¦ I would rather just be with you, but if that is a thing, then we can negotiateā¦ā
His boyfriend was so cute when he gave him that confused puppy lookāeven before the Karim memories, he thought Chelo was adorable, but Santi didnāt want to make it weird. He scooted a bit closer, lying on his side. āW-watch?ā He laughed in nervous embarrassment, feeling heat creep up his cheeks. āI donātā¦ no, I like being touched by you, but itāsā¦ā Embarrassing.
He admittedly felt relieved that it wasnāt that. Chelo would accommodate Santi however Santi wanted, but he did want it to be Santiās hands running over him, Santiās mouth, Santiā¦and no one else. Why was it embarrassing for him to touch Santi, though? He couldnāt grasp the shape of Santiās embarrassment. He was quiet for a moment, pursing his lips, trying to think of what he could do to make it so Santi didnāt feel that way. His eyes moved to Santiās face. The blushing was also really cute. He wanted to close the space between them again. He really wanted to put his hands all over Santi, but that wasnāt doing it. So what thenā¦?
After a moment, he pulled his hands from his stomach, crossing them over his head (one wrist resting atop the other), and smiled. His stomach felt a little chilly where his shirt drew up. The stretch in his torso gave him a pleasantly vulnerable feeling, and vulnerable might be good. It might help, he thought, if he pulled back in that direction, and invited Santi to take the lead. At least he thought it was worth a try.
āKiss me,ā he said, closing his eyes and parting his mouth.
Santiās gaze became immediately hyperfocused, staring searingly at Cheloās form and perceiving every slight shift and change, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath, that sliver of skin, and those pretty lips.
The younger man felt like he was to vibrate off of this planet, but he swallowed the thick knot in his throat to try and calm himself down. He shifted his weight and position, his fingers brushing lightly over Cheloās exposed stomach before inching closer and closer. He could feel the pleasant heat of Cheloās body as he hesitantly fitted their lips together. He felt like he was to vibrate off of this planet, but he swallowed the thick knot in his throat to try and calm himself down.
A sudden rush of confidence welled up within Santi, cupping Cheloās cheek and running his fingers in his hair, gently playing with it as his lips moved in a gentle and intimate caress.
Chelo shivered at the touch, trying to stay still, though he automatically wanted to reach for Santi and pull him closer (well, the real urge was to tug Santi on top of himā¦), but he waited as patiently as he could manage, only making one softly little sound of impatience before Santi touched his face and kissed him. It was nice and soft, the way heād been trying to go forā¦and it was also making him want to touch Santi againā¦but maybe it was too soon still. He didnāt want to upend any newfound confidence, so instead, he made a soft, needy sound, fingers flexing as he restrained himself from being too impatient.
Perhaps destiny smiled upon Chelo because Santi moved to lie on top of Chelo, both of his hands gently cradling his face as he gave him the softest and most affectionate slow kiss. Despite his inexperience, Santi had a lot of theory in his mind from another life and from books. He gave light tugs and gentle suction, even letting his shy tongue peek from time to time to properly taste his boyfriend.
He wondered about how shy Santi had been before, and he still was puzzled about what exactly had embarrassed him, but thought this was good. Chelo opened one leg, to give his boyfriend more room and allow him to be just as close as he liked. Probably that was okay, now that things seemed easier between them. He also moved his hands to Santiās shoulders and up to cradle the nape of his neck with the right one. He really wanted to put them under Santiās clothes (he really to squeeze his ass)ābut that was probably too much. Things were going well, and they had time. He softened his mouth, happy to let Santi explore at his pace, delicately responding in kind when it seemed rightāhumming appreciatively. Maybe it was some kind of reflex, but as he got a little more relaxed himself, his left leg followed the other, lightly cradling Santiās hips.
It was going so nicely, Chelo, at least, did not hear the sound of the front door opening and closing. The world beyond Santi was not a world he was very interested in, though perhaps soon he would be.
Santi was paying absolutely no attention either. Instead, he moaned softly as he finally and shyly pushed his tongue past Cheloās lips, and that, with their new position and Cheloās legs on each of his sides, wellā¦ They caused an obvious reaction that stirred and hardened between his legs.
He noticed when he felt his hardness pressing against Chelo, so he pulled back, blushing profusely, and panting softly, but not moving away from on top of the other man.
āāMsosorrysorrryyyā¦ā
Chelo smiled, not laughing because Santi did seem really flusteredāand he didnāt want him to feel ashamed or anything. He shook his head, brow creasing, though still smiling. āWhat are you sorry for? That isā¦more or less the point. Though you know, we donāt have to do anything. Only what youā¦ā He paused as Santi avoided his gaze. He thought he did hear some kind of kitchen sound, but it didnāt come again, so he shook his head. āYou donāt have to be sorry. I want you to, you know, like being with me. I like being with you. You can checkāā
There was then a knock at the door. āSanti? Weāre back. I found the ice cream you asked about. Do you want some now?ā Arturo called from the other side.
Santi almost died, staring wide-eyed at Chelo.
āYou did?ā Santiago Sr stared at his husband with an arched brow, folding his arms over his chest. āSanti come out, you can resume gaming later.ā He raised his voice from the kitchen, putting away some more things from their reusable bags.
āWhat do we do?ā Santi asked in a whisper, since, well, his erection still hadnāt faded away as his soul did.
Chelo, now a ghost, was not sure. He was probably gripping Santi a little too hard with his legs now, staring at the door. At least Santiās dads didnāt just barge in, and it was locked anyway, butā¦ He looked back at Santi, his mind a powerful blank.
āThey were on sale,ā Arturo replied. āI like a bargain.ā He knocked again. āHeās right. You can play games later. Come help with the groceries.ā He turned back to the kitchen, sorting through another bag. Even though Arturo was no longer at the door, there was a clear sense that he was still waiting for his son to come to the kitchen.
Chelo swallowed. āTuck up?ā he finally managed, also whispering. He was wearing jeans, so he thought he was probably okay, except the fact the door was closed in the first place, which he knew he would have found suspicious if it was him knocking on Hugoās door in the afternoon. āWe just have toā¦not look guilty,ā he suggested and managed to make his legs relax. āWe hang out all the time.ā
āC-coming!ā Santi yelled and immediately got flustered when his brain made the connection. He jolted up onto his feet, and in a hurry and dying, even more, he reached into his pants to try and adjust his erection in such a way it wouldnāt be too obvious, but well, it was a complicated puzzle. āLet me, uh, saveā¦?ā
āSantiago Antonio Luna, come out,ā Santiago Sr said in that dry and serious tone of his, but he grinned at Arturo and smacked his hip with his own. āIām going to think youāre misbehaving with all the stuttering.ā
āOur Santi? Misbehaving?ā Arturo chuckled, bumping him back and continued putting things away. āProbably had his headphones in.ā
Santiago Sr nodded, shrugging his shoulders after a moment. That made sense to him.
Chelo rolled into a sitting position, doing a quick adjust and glad he hadnāt worn softer pants. He already had a feeling that his mouth was probably looking well-kissed, and they were both kind of red. It wasāwas it fine? He could not tell. His own dad wouldnāt bat an eye, though his aunts both wouldāno, he would not think about that, nor about Santiago Sr.ās piercing eyes that would no doubt see through him instantly. He tried to straighten his shirt, like this would in any way make it look like he had only been watching Santi play games.
āWeāre good. Weāre fine,ā he said, as confidently as he could manage, though his smile was a little forced. Maybe Santi had had girlfriends or boyfriends before, so it wasnāt like Chelo was impinging on the purity of their one and only sonā¦? And maybe heād had someone over before in such a capacity, so it wasnāt a big deal? He shook his head. He kind of doubted that Santi had had anyone over for kissing lessons. But Santiās dads were really nice and also maybe they would just get it. Maybe? āWe got this,ā he said and then approached the door, but stopped. ā...After you?ā
Santi looked down at his sweats, and after shuffling it about, he only managed to keep it from looking like a tent, but it wasnāt exactly hiding much, so he looked at Chelo in despair when he said it was āfineā.
He took in a deep breath, shooting a final glare at the problem between his legs before combing his hair with his fingers. He could do this heā¦
Couldnāt, but he had no other choice, so he peeked his head out.
āIām uh, hanging out with Cheloā¦ I thought you were going to come back later?ā
āCheloās here?ā Arturo called back, now peeking his head out to look back at his son. āThereās enough ice cream for everyone, but not if you drag your feet. Then weāre going to be forced to eat all of it.ā He smiled at his husband and then stepped into the hall, crossing his arms. āIt didnāt take as much time as I thought it would. Why? Are you studying?ā
From behind Santi, Chelo hoovered. He could see that Santi was having a little bit of aā¦well, it was unfortunate that his dads had come home sooner than later. Maybe it wouldnāt have been a problem with just a little more time, but that wasnāt in the cards. Still, maybe he could do something. He cleared his throat, trying to get Santiās attention, and then attempted to slip between him and the door, out into the hall. A human shield.
āIce cream would be great. Never say no to ice cream.ā He thought they probably should say they were studying, but he was really bad at lying, and heād just had to do weird lying, which he hadnāt even done. Heād just stood there looking awkward. He didnāt want to lie to Santiās dads. He thought Santiago might be able to turn liars into stone with just a glanceā¦
Santi slotted himself close behind Chelo, hands on his shoulders. āYeah, I love ice cream! Ice cream is great,ā he laughed nervously, his smile shy behind his boyfriend. He didnāt dare to move from where he was.
Once he was done with the bags, Santiago followed after his husband to check on their son and his friend, immediately staring at them in the eye because they were both were acting suspicious. He knew these kids too well.
Both fathers were now staring at them, because there was just something about this sudden tension that seemed off, at least to Arturo who continued to regard his son from behind his friend with a mixture of confusion and increasing suspicion.
āWhatās wrong? Are you hurt? Why are you doing that?ā he asked, starting over, because it worried him how Santi was acting.
Chelo visibly gulped, frozen in time by the direct gaze of Santiās namesake and other father. He wanted to say something, or make himself walk, so that he could gloss over all of this with some sense of normalcy, but instead he was standing there, blocking their direct view of the Situation, but also not doing anything normal to further disguise things. He thought of his aunts again and felt Deep Concern about how this might end up.
And why were Santiagoās eyes so very pale and searing at the same time? Like he could really somehow pull truths out of thin air just by staring long enough. That was impossible, but even so, Chelo blurted out, āWeāre dating.ā
āChelo!ā Santi whined and shook his friend a few times, growing bright red and feeling his heart race. Oh no, he was going to die. He couldnāt even look at his dads, so he hid behind his boyfriendās shoulder.
āYou areā¦ what?ā Santiago arched his eyebrow before bearing the full force of his gaze upon Chelo as he walked past his husband.-
Arturo stopped in his tracks, eyebrows shooting up. He tried hard not to laugh as Santiago walked past him, because one had to admitā¦there was something funny about all of it, even as the wheels were now turning in his head, and he was starting to frown in consideration of something he hadnāt had to put much, if any, thought into before this moment. The way he regarded Santi conveyed a sudden awareness that he was not looking at a very tall five-year-old. But he could remember bringing Santi home from the hospital like it was yesterday. It hadnāt seemed like it had been much time at all since the day he held his infant son in his armsā¦
Chelo, meanwhileā¦was not sure if he had made a grave mistake or not. It was, after all, the truth. He rocked back and forth as Santi shook him, but his attention was on Santiago Sr. He smiled weakly, his brain frozen in time and place, so that all he could really manage was to continue standing straight and not ignoring the question, because now it felt less like a matter of honesty and more a matter of being very respectful and not avoiding any questions.
āB-boyfriend?ā he managed. He would also like to shrink and become microscopic, but he seemed only to be able to stand there with the look of a dog who had gotten into the pantry while the humans were away.
Santiās dads were nice. They were basically the best. It was just that when it came to Santi, Chelo felt like āoverprotectiveā might be an understatementā¦
Santiago walked up all the way into Cheloās space, looking down at him with very stern and green eyes. He stared some more, not saying anything, his lips pressed into a thin line.
āAnd when, exactly, were you planning to tell us you saw our babāson with such eyes?ā
Santi groaned, not looking at his dad, but wrapping his arms around Chelo in a feeble attempt to protect him.
He was grateful for the attempt toā¦he thought maybe Santi was being supportive. And he was grateful for it, because Santiago Sr. definitely had almost said ābaby,ā and he was once again thinking the thought heād had on the way over, about how possibly heād misread Santiās explanation about being bi. If he could think straight at all, he might have thought he should interrogate why he assumed that bi would equate experience, but he could not think because Santiago Sr. was standing close and staring at him with Dad Eyes. What was the question? His brain kept looping back, too, to the events of about ten minutes ago, and his blush was ever spreading from his face to his throat and ears.
Arturo shook himself out of his daze, suddenly nodding. āYes, how long have you been dating our son?ā
Because he was not thinking very straight, the answer that came was very odd. It wasnāt āfor a week,ā or anything like thatāwhich would be the not weird answer. It was, instead, āPast life?ā
Santiagoās eyes furrowed, and he was now staring at Chelo as if he had gone insane. āWhat? Is this some romantic thing?ā
Oh god, Chelo! Santi began to shake his boyfriend again, abruptly deciding to bite him on his back to jolt him into self-awareness.
Chelo looked around, as though anything could save him. He was hyper aware of the fact that heād been about to invite Santi to put his hand in his pants just as the dads had returned home. Romantic? What was romantic?
āOw,ā he squeaked and glanced back at Santi. He realized heād said past life then and quickly shook his head. āUh, no, Iā¦itās the name ofā¦ā His lie was unraveling even as it started, so he abandoned it. āFor a week,ā he managed instead.
Arturo narrowed his eyes, doing some mental math. Had Chelo been over in the past week, or was this the first time heād been hanging out with their little boy with the door shut? He thought it was the first time, butā¦
Santiagoās eyes narrowed, and he leaned over Chelo to appear taller than he was. āA week and youāre locking yourselves in his room when you think we werenāt home?ā
No longer having a problematic arousal, Santi finally stepped away from Cheloās back to put himself between his dad and his boyfriend. āDad, please stop bullying him!ā
Arturo was frowning as he scratched his scruff. It was definitely the first time as far as he could tell. He wasnāt sure how he felt about that. They had given Santi The Talk and wanted him toā¦ No, he had not wanted Santi to grow up. Not because he wanted his son to be stunted, but because he wanted to forever think of Santi as the adorable toddler in those bath photos. Recalling them now nearly brought a tear to his eye.
But it was good in a wayā¦perhaps. He thought, at least, on some level it was probably good that Santi wasā¦growing up andā¦connecting with someone outside of his computer. The idea that his son might get caught up in some catfishing scheme, tricked by strangers on the internet to empty out his bank account, or any number of nefarious things that would certainly scar Santi for lifeāand break his heartāhad kept him awake at night from time to time. At least they knew where Marcelo lived.
He did not, however, do anything to keep his husband from picking on the two, because theyād been in there with the door closed while they thought he and Santiago were away, and so it seemed somewhat deserved. But he was smiling just a bit as he regarded the three.
Chelo was very glad that Santi had said ānoā to the shower on the yacht. Yes, he was very glad for Santiās good sense. He was also glad that Santi was no longer hiding behind him. He thought he was about to melt from all the blushing. But he was not sure what to do, because he was not sure what the actual rules were. His dad was not like Santiās. His dadā¦spent more time at work than at home. Heād always made sure that Chelo and Hugo werenāt alone in the house. When he knew he was looking at a string of late nights at the job, he sent them to a grandparent or an auntsā house. Theyād spent a lot of time at those houses, and there were rules there, like, No sex under this roof ever. It was pretty clear-cut. Though he had certainly broken that rule on several occasionsā¦
There was nothing he could say at this moment that would not make this situation explosive, so of course he did say something, which was, ā...I have liked Santiā¦for a very long time.ā Pause. āNot when he was 15! Butā¦ But for a long timeā¦?ā
Santiago gave Chelo an incredulous look, making a tsking sound. āI always knew there was something off with how you looked at our baby. We shouldnāt have let youāā
āDAD!ā Santi whined, and Santiago suddenly bursted into a deep laughter, clutching his stomach. āI like Chelo a lot,ā he said, reaching for his boyfriendās hand to take it and squeeze it. āHe has never done anything wrong and respects me a lot, you know that.ā
Santiago let out a soft sigh of resignation, taking a few steps back. It was hard to accept their little boy was a man now, but he knew it was only a matter of time even if it took Santi longer than the average to reach this phase of his life.
āI know,ā he said, accepting his defeat.
Arturo also started to laugh, unable to hold it in. He wished a little that he had had his phone out. The look on the boysā facesā¦ If only they could see themselves. He leaned against the wall, laughing and letting out a resigned sigh. He pushed away just to come over and put an arm around Santiagoās hips, leaning against him. Part of him did feel conflicted over this milestone, but he was happy, too.
āValentineās Day,ā he guessed aloud. He glanced at Santiago, smiling just a little, because wasnāt that cheesy? But he did prefer the idea that Santi had been romancedātreated like the treasure he wasāso he approved.
But he made a mental note to circle back around and refresh Santi on The Talk when Chelo left.
Santiago rolled his eyes, but then he smiled back, and titled his head to look at their son as he leaned comfortably against his husband.
Chelo had lost lots of HP. His bar was blinking red in warning. But he had somehow managed to survive. It helped, Santi taking his hand. For a moment, he really had thought that Santiago Sr. was serious, and that it did look like he was being weird. Heād wanted so much to not be weird about Santi, so he was prepared to release his soul and flee at any moment in shame. Luckily, Santiago had laughed instead. The look on Cheloās face was mostly confused and still very worried. Cautiously, he smiled, looking between the little family, and squeezed Santiās hand. His brain was still devoid of words, but he decided not to force anymore, because he had wound up saying some strange things, and he didnāt want to say anymore.
Arturo was toying with the idea of not entirely jokingly reminding his sonās boyfriend that he would be watching him, but Santi sounded very mature, and he respected that. Besides, Santi was right. They did know Chelo, and he didnāt think he had to worry. (He was still worried.) He huffed out a laugh and shook his head.
āWellā¦the ice cream isnāt going to eat itself. Besides, it seems like maybe we should celebrate.ā He looked again at Santiago.
āAre you going to stop bullying him?ā Santi looked hopeful at his dads before smiling in relief at Chelo.
Santiago groaned. āI guess,ā he waved his hand in dismissal. āFor now, at least.ā He reached over to cup Arturoās cheek and lean in to peck his lips before heading back into the kitchen. āBut you have to promise to behave!ā He called out from the kitchen as he got four cups for the ice cream.
Like he ever behaved in his life, how could he expect that from his son?
āFor now, at least,ā Arturo agreed, kissing Santiago back and following him back to the kitchen. There was definitely going to be some further discussion later, thoughā¦
āY-yes, sir,ā Chelo replied and wondered if he should have said that. He was not the very best at behaving, not like that anyway. But it seemed like the thing you should say to your boyfriendās parents, so he did.
He laughed breathily and leaned against Santi, turning his head to press his brow to his shoulder. āI love you,ā he said quietly, without explanation. He, at least, didnāt think he needed to. āShall we?ā
āI love you too,ā Santi replied too easily, squeezing Cheloās hand. āLetās go? Thereās ice cream waitingā¦ā
Chelo lifted his head, making such a face, because Santi had said it back this time. Despite feeling a little winded and shaky from before, he suddenly was bursting with energy and good cheer, pressing his lips together around a smile and eyes bright. He followed Santi into the kitchen, his head in the clouds and beaming without restraint.