Clang(27)

"Feeling horny again? It's not just the wine talking?" he teased,  resting his hand on Chase's shoulder instead of his hip or worse.

Chase winked. "Well, I gotta give you something worth fighting for."

Jackson had been cool and collected all day, but that line made Jackson freeze.

Shit. Chase was used to trading sex for protection, wasn't he? "Did your ex take you in before or after you left?"

Chase looked confused at the question. "After. It was just a place to  stay and sex first, and then we started dating," he drawled, his speech a  little slurred. "Why?"

Jackson bit his lip. This looked a lot like a pattern. He had to be  careful around Chase. "You ever worry he'd kick you out if you didn't do  things for him?"

Chase pulled his hand back from Jackson's thigh. He looked like he  resented the question, but he wouldn't meet Jackson's gaze, either.  "Yeah."

"It's not like that with me," Jackson shook his head. He let that hang  in the air for a few seconds. The words were worthless, but eventually,  he'd prove them. Over time. "You should get to bed. Early night for the  drunk, hm?"

Chase nodded, and Jackson helped him up to his feet. He steered Chase  into the bedroom and flicked on the bedside light. Then, he sat him  firmly down on the bed before pulling off his t-shirt.

"Mm, baby," Chase breathed out through the semi-darkness. He yanked his jeans off, kicking them free.

Jackson leaned in to press a gentle kiss on his shoulder, then his cheek. He pulled back the covers for Chase. "Not tonight."

Chase groaned. "But sleeping with you... is gonna be hard otherwise."

"I'm sleeping on the couch," Jackson told him softly. Once Chase was  under the covers, he pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Night, Chase."

"Night," Chase murmured. Though he clearly wanted to protest Jackson's  decision, he was exhausted. His eyes shut as fast as that.

Jackson watched Chase for a few more moments. When he didn't stir,  Jackson rose to his feet, turned off the lamp, and tugged the covers up  around Chase's shoulders.

He checked the bedroom window lock, then all the other windows. He had  no idea how bad this family was, and he didn't intend to give them any  chances at Chase.

Charlie? For the first time, he had a moment to think about that name  he'd heard. Clearly, Chase didn't like it. Maybe he'd changed his name  when he ran away.

Jackson sighed and checked the door lock twice, then circled the living  room. He checked all the window locks, then the balcony door. They were  on the third floor, but it still seemed prudent.

He crashed on the couch, turning onto his side and pulling one of the couch cushions beneath his head.

Chase needed a safer place to stay. If his family knew where he was,  they could track him down and harass him when he wasn't around. That  guy, Jerry, had already hinted as much.

The solution was obvious, but there was one problem. The solution: Chase  could move in with him. The problem: Chase might feel obligated, even  subconsciously, to have sex for protection. Just like his ex. That final  piece of the puzzle was in place now, too. Jackson wasn't having any of  that.

But Jackson had to do something to help his new boyfriend.

He barely remembered drifting off to sleep.



When he stirred, Jackson heard quiet sounds from the kitchen. He cracked  open his eyes, rubbing them and stretching. "Oh, man..." His back was  gonna kill him later.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you."

Chase looked bedraggled, but not hungover. He was putting on toast. "S'okay," Jackson murmured. "No hangover?"

"I don't usually get them," Chase shook his head. "Want toast?"

"Sure."

Jackson gingerly sat up and stretched, trying to chase the kinks from  his back. Meanwhile, Chase put on and buttered two slices of toast. He  came to sit next to him on the couch.

Jackson took his plate of toast before he leaned in to kiss his forehead. "Feeling all right?"

Chase nodded, working his jaw around with a sheepish look on his face as  he stared at his toast. "Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. I'm sorry you had to,  you know... deal with all that."

"It's nothing to be sorry about," Jackson shook his head. "I was thinking, though..."

"Yeah?"

Jackson nibbled the crust off his toast. "Well... Your family knows where you live now, right?"

"Yeah," Chase winced.

"And I take it that's not a good thing."

"That's... not really, no."

Jackson licked his lips. "If you'd feel safer elsewhere, I have lots of  room. You could move in with me. Just for a few days, or weeks, or  however long it takes to find a new place, or to drive your uncle out of  town..." he trailed off, then crunched the rest of his toast and set  the plate aside. He said around the toast, "S'totally up to you."         

     



 

Chase looked stunned. "You... you wouldn't mind?"

"Course not!" Jackson squeezed Chase's knee. "I mean, at least I can  help you get a restraining order or break your lease, or whatever you  have to do. I just... I can't let you face this alone."

Chase was giving him a funny look, and Jackson couldn't quite place it  at first. It took him a minute to realize that it was shock and... deep  gratitude. Chase's expression was soft and warm. His eyes flickered back  and forth between Jackson's.

"Thanks," Chase finally murmured. He set aside his own half-eaten toast and leaned in for a hug.

Jackson was happy to squeeze him, pressing his cheek against Chase's. "It's all right. We'll work things out."

Chase nodded silently, and Jackson heard his breathing hitch before it smoothed out again.

I suppose this can't be solved by me finding him and beating the shit out of him. If only it were that easy.

"Just one thing," Jackson murmured, pulling back. "Something you said last night."

Chase winced. "Embarrassing?"

"No. Just that you... used to worry about your ex, um... kicking you out."

Chase's eyes widened, his lips parting before he tried to hide his  surprise. He didn't go around blurting that out to everyone. "Right?"

"I don't want you feeling like I'm taking advantage of you. I'm... not  comfortable with us having sex while you're relying on me for shelter."

Chase looked stunned. "Oh."

"Is that... a problem?"

Chase slowly shook his head. "I mean, I'm gonna be horny as fuck, but..."

"Not saying I won't be, too," Jackson laughed. "Just for the first week  or something, until we're both settled. I just... I feel uncomfortable  with it is all."

Chase nodded. "No, I think I get why. When you put it that way... it does sound a bit..." he trailed off.

Jackson didn't want to fill in manipulative while Chase was thinking  through his past. Instead, he clapped Chase's knee again and squeezed.  "'kay? We good?"

"We're good," Chase confirmed. For the first time since they'd seen  Jerry, his shoulders were down and his breathing was easy. If not  completely carefree, he at least looked grounded again. His lips even  curved up in a beautiful smile that crept over his lips.

When he leaned into kiss Jackson, Jackson slipped his arm around Chase's shoulder. He kissed him gently in return.

You're worth fighting for.

It might be a lifelong task to get Chase to see that, but Jackson didn't mind one bit.





Chapter 25


Chase


"I'll be back in... forty minutes or so," Jackson promised, squeezing  Chase's hand. "I'll just grab moving boxes and my truck and we'll get  your important stuff moved over to my place today."

Chase squeezed back, then let go. He pulled open the door to his apartment. "Okay. Thanks. See you in a bit."

"Stay here until I get back, okay?"

"Yeah," Chase laughed under his breath. That wasn't a problem. He wasn't  unlocking the door for anyone after the close call they'd had last  night.

Jackson leaned in and down the couple inches that separated them to peck  his lips. He headed out to the elevator with another wave.

After waving back, Chase let the door close and locked it, then leaned against it.

This was all happening so fast. Since Jackson had suggested moving in  with him, they'd only needed a couple minutes to discuss it. When they'd  agreed he should move in with Jackson today, Jackson had sprung into  action.

Chase could tell he liked having a plan, and a way to help. He was  grateful that Jackson was so determined to help keep him safe. He still  felt weirdly squirmy inside about having someone else  –  another guy, no  less  –  shelter him from his family. He'd hoped he was man enough to  stand up to them himself, but... when he'd tried, he'd just shut down.

Chase was fulfilling everything they'd predicted, and he hated it.

He shook his head, rubbing a hand down his face. "Just shut up," he  muttered to himself. He strode to the bedroom to choose a pile of  clothes he'd bring. In the bathroom, he packed up his essentials. The  kitchen was his next stop, to bring perishable foods and alcohol.