[color=wheat][right][sub][b]FLASKBACK:[/b] Summer before junior year
[b]FT:[/b] [color=b8860b]Marco Brady-Castillo[/color], [color=005d9e]Danilo Belmonte[/color][/sub][/right]
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[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230409/80c319df5ac2460906af30c2c115fba0.png[/img]
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[img]https://i.imgur.com/4HjifKL.png[/img]
[b][color=#B8860B]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#9D801F]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][color=#005C9D]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#9D801F]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][/b]

[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/metanoia][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/de8425488b0608f3b4f383a389598999.png[/img][/url] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/ea0c13b96bec39eb2a81ba5c05ed31f7.png[/img] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/lovelycomplex][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/29817612104c780ce1548b8a06b6ada5.png[/img][/url][/center]

[indent][indent]The Bradys and the Belmontes and other neighboring Scott Street families found themselves in and out of the large estate that unabashedly sported Italian pride. The flag of Italy hung from a staff that angled out from the front wall, the kitchen, the biggest room of the house, was crowded by earthy and sunny art pieces, plates printed with fruits and veggies, and Tuscan mechanical workshops and artisan hone metals to elevate the appliances. Pottery and flowers could be found in every corner, table, and surface inside and out the house. Antique furniture was the centerpiece of each room (minus the kids’ bedrooms - all made in a tailored design, featuring their personalities), and paintings. Paintings hung everywhere. Many, many paintings. Some shipped from Italy, others painted by Vivia herself. She was gifted, after all, and had a delightful teacher in Eleanor Costigan. 

Tiziano was cooking spiedini over the grill flame, Sylvia was in the kitchen making sure traffic kept moving as people retrieved the bounty of food that waited on the counters, the island, and the dining room table, most of the kids were in the pool, and the older Belmonte girls were tasked to bring their best to the party, socializing and entertaining their father’s guests. Like every year, Taz’s summer barbeque was turning out to be a success. People came and went as they pleased and most of those who attended enjoyed the distraction, enjoyed the peace and enjoyed the summer heat. Taz was happy to see his family and his friends all rejoicing under one roof, like one big happy family. Taz was happy and glad to not hear any stories of ghosts and horror. A moment to forget and just be. A perfect way to spend a summer day. 

The one person who was finding it hard to immerse himself in the environment was Danilo Belmonte. He sat on a stool barely touching his burger inside the living room, beside the couch that was once taken by a couple of Cat’s friends. Brainlessly, he went through the channels on the television trying to decide what summer sport he should watch. He was finding today unbearable and he didn’t know why. All he knew was ever since he visited the O’Briens last, he felt uncomfortable and weird. Foul and disgusting. He felt many things and nothing at all. He felt numb, or tried to at least. 

Staying out of his father’s view was priority, then followed by keeping himself busy with senseless things and nonsense. Danny knew his dad would want him to hang with the men, acting like he was an adult while his father smoked a cigar. Deeply sighing, Danny settled with football (soccer), put the remote back on the coffee table and leaned back. He sat there quiet, just not in the mood to talk to anyone. That is until his mother slipped inside his mind palace, inviting herself with worry and concern. She was quick to know when he was lying and even faster at understanding her son’s body language. After a short, sweet exchange, Danny was given permission to rest and hide out in his bedroom. Until dessert, Mama B would shield him from the extreme tendencies.  

Relieved that he got a free pass, Danny rose, leaving the game on the screen, and left the crowd to go to the quiet of his bedroom.  To lay down, that would be a great adventure. Avoiding any passersby, he tactically went up the stairs to go to his oasis. His bedroom.  He needed to play some music and think of something that made him feel good. That made him smile. He needed a distraction. 

All the while, several minutes before Danny would even go upstairs, a certain curious boy had already made his way up to Danny Belmonte’s room. What had first initially began as an accident that was followed by a moment of weakness, curiosity the cat took control of Marco Brady’s every action. In the years he had been massively crushing on Danny, but only coming off of months since they had a very confusing and enthralling moment together, Marco hadn’t been able to get Danny out of his head (more so than usual). 

He went upstairs just to use the bathroom. When he tried the one downstairs, it was occupied, but in the middle of his quest to relieve himself, Marco was drawn to a specific bedroom. It was obviously Danny’s because it smelled like him. There was a certain mixture of Danny’s cologne that was earthy and quite potent (something Marco would never choose for himself), but it was familiar. In the process of carefully walking around Danny’s room, took in the sights because he went on a journey. From the jersey’s hanging over his bed, his desk set up that made him wish he had one like that, the shelf for just his sneakers, and just everything his eyes could see.

Marco didn’t know what he expected, but being in Danny’s room made him feel like he was closer to the boy he was…well he wouldn’t say addicted, but this was as close to being addicted as one could get. He was bathing in the scent, overwhelmed by every sensation that hit him that he had to take a pause on his bed. Marco laid back, wondering if there would ever come a day that he might be able to lay here [i]with[/i] Danny. Something he longed to happen for so long, yet as he laid there, deep in thought and in more comfort than he could have ever predicted, he frowned when he realized that the thoughts going through his head were impossible. Only possible in dreams.

And then he heard some noise coming close to the door. He didn’t close the bedroom door because that would have made it seem like he was sneaking around. He just wandered into Danny’s room. In a panic, Marco slid under the bed. He didn’t know how much time he’d have - only that Marco had to get out of sight and had to do it [i]fast[/i]. [i]Why didn’t I just go into the closet? Because I’m an idiot, that’s why.[/i] He had to pray to [i]GOD[/i] he was as quiet as he thought he was, but it was impossible when he heard exactly who it was that came into Danny’s room.

It was Danny. He heard him say something and Marco was cursing himself into oblivion. 

Closing the door behind him, Danny locked it, seeking solitude, being away from the masses, especially his father. Once he reached his dresser he connected his phone to his bluetooth speakers. His goal: to drown out the noise outside. To drown out the noise in his mind. Going through his music, he chose his rap playlist and the first song to come on was [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O1tj2phCQY]Stress[/url] by NF. This song wasn’t the best at distracting him but at least it made the noise outside distant. Putting his hands behind his head, intertwining his fingers, he listened to the lyrics and breathed. 

Just breathe. 

Shutting his eyes, he stood there combating his thoughts. He was sure that he ruined his friendship with Jill. All because of a stupid game. A game that made him feel… made him feel what? He had so much to live up to. He was the only son of Tiziano Belmonte and he was [i]amazing[/i] at basketball. So much so that he could go to the big leagues if he kept his grades up and didn’t stray from the path his father paved for him. It wasn’t like he minded. He had his whole life planned for him. It would guarantee success and stability. If he fell, he was sure his mother would provide the security he needed to get back up but it was unlikely he would fail. Failure wasn’t an option. He couldn’t fail. He couldn’t fall. If he did, how would his father react? 

Opening his eyes, he grabbed his small basketball off his dresser and squeezed it in his hand. Swiftly turning, he tossed it in the air straight to his closet and to the mini hoop mounted on it. Nothing but net. When he scored and the ball fell onto the floor, bouncing a bit and then rolling under the bed, Danny sighed, furrowing his eyebrows from all the tension and stress. 

Grace O’Brien. 

She wasn’t part of the plan. He would never do that to Jill. He promised. That was her older sister. But then he did. Why did he?  Because of a stupid game with his best friend? Rye and him? They were just being idiots and making the most of their freetime. A game to see who could get the most scores. A bet that would undoubtedly prove who was the smooth talker of the two. 

Getting girls was easy. Who wouldn’t want to be with Francis’ legacy? The bound-to-be NBA star of Edenridge High. Danny Belmonte. Getting girls was easy… but then Rye started getting someone every week, his playing field more wide. Boys, girls, and others. Northies, southies, and in between. Danny fell behind. Danny was [i]losing[/i]. He couldn’t afford to lose. He couldn’t afford failing as a man. How embarrassing would it be if his teammates found out that bubbly, lovable Rye knew how to flirt better than their captain? 

Danny could see the charm. Rye was small, cute, and made you feel needed. He hit a different kink. He made you feel wanted. He made you feel seen. He was high maintenance and at times, too much to deal with, but he definitely was someone Danny would consider: a catch. Still, that didn’t justify the jocek’s actions with Grace. Because he gave in, because he ended up saying yes, after dodging her advances time and time again, after telling her they shouldn’t, he couldn’t and that he didn’t think it was right, after saying no over and over again throughout the years… he finally said yes because could Rye say he got with an upperclassman? 

Danny could but at the price of his friendship with Jill. 

Was it all because a dumb game? Was this horrible mistake all because he wanted to one up Rye and show he was better than him? Giving another deep sigh, Danny slipped off his sneakers, shuffled to his bed, and rolled onto it, until he was resting on his back. Danny thought he was smarter than that. Smarter than a game or well, letting a game influence his behavior. He was a basketball player who needed to know when to not let the game and crowd get to his head. But maybe he was wrong. Maybe he wasn't as good as he thought. Maybe he was…

[color=b8860b]“Ow! Ow! Ow!”[/color] Suddenly there came a series of groans - loud ones. Noticeable from under the bed. When Danny had laid back, the frame held firm as it should be and as Marco expected it to. For a family that lived as well as the Belmontes did, Marco expected Danny’s bed to be top of the line, but even that frame could only support so much weight without giving way to it for a bit and Danny was a bulky person. So when Marco heard it start to creek, no doubt because the object of his affection for years had put his entire weight on the mattress, it in turn pushed said weight on Marco’s back. He wasn’t so far from the edge, so he rolled out on the other side.

The sound of someone hidden in his room caused Danny to be on high alert. Rolling off his bed and standing up, his guard rushed back up as he watched this random person crawl on the floor, from under his bed, like some horror film. He didn’t have any weapons in his immediate reach so he was prepared to tackle and fight if need be. All he wanted to do was rest but it looks like God had other plans for him. Who the hell would go under someone’s bed?! 

[color=b8860b]“Hello…”[/color] From the other side, said Marco, a painful expression on his face as he slowly pulled himself off the floor, gripping the top of Danny’s bed for support. He met the surprised gaze of Danny and he was completely justified to it. [color=b8860b]“Ah, is that NF I hear? Good artist. JP told me to check him out. I thought maybe I would.”[/color] He still felt a sharpness in his lower back but Marco just kept trying to talk. [color=b8860b]“I know what this looks like. I promise I didn’t intend to lay under your bed…[sub]though I guess in hindsight  I should have hid in the closet. Least then my back wouldn’t be killing me right now.[/sub]”[/color] Marco said in a lower voice. He was trying his best to explain his being in Danny’s room, but everything that came from his mouth felt like he was digging himself six feet deep inside cement and dirt.

When the reveal of the culprit came to light, Danny was stunned. He didn’t expect Marco to be in his room like this. Or in his room alone. Or in his room at all. Looking at the other boy in a dumb stupor, a sudden rush of thoughts came crashing into Danny’s mind. No, it wasn’t the game that stressed him out. It wasn’t the game that pushed him to cave and give into Grace’s pressure. It wasn’t the game that overwhelmed him to the point that he wanted to explode. It was this boy right here that put him in between a rock and a hard place. Or more like… this growing intense feeling he felt whenever they were around each other.

He couldn’t get Marco’s scent out of his mind or smile or even the cute facial expressions he makes when their shoulders touch. The game was just a distraction when the reality of his situation was, he couldn’t play it well because for the last two years all he wanted was to… [color=005d9e]“... Marco,”[/color] Danny breathed, realizing he locked the door, there was music playing, and no one else was around to see them. [color=005d9e]“... what are you doing here?”[/color] 

It took Marco a few moments, short and long alike, to get himself upright and to his feet. It was a mixture of the slight discomfort of Danny’s bedframe against his back and him having to crawl out from under his bed. Neither of those compared to being in his room with Danny. Nothing compared to being so close to him in a setting that he had dreamed of for so many nights, for so many months of the two years he’s known of Danny Belmonte’s existence. Nothing came even close to being so close to those dreams being realized but having to explain why he was even in his room. The easy answer would be to lie his ass off about it, but Marco was a terrible liar. It’s why his siblings never did anything that didn’t meet their parent’s standards around them because if they got caught, be it their father or mother, they’d find out through him.

[color=b8860b]“Good question, good question…”[/color] Marco was stammering through his words, his instant tell of running his hand behind his head as scratched the top of his scalp with his perfectly manicured fingers. [color=b8860b]“So..I was looking for the bathroom. Think it was occupied downstairs. I came up the stairs to find one, but…you know, this house is very big. Like it’s almost like the house from Emil’s guilty pleasure show, Days of Our Lives, there’s a couple of mafia families in there with enormous homes..”[/color] Marco rambled on, realizing he outed Emiliano’s most hidden secret that he promised he’d never breathe to a soul about. Whoops. [color=b8860b]“Don’t tell Emil I said that. He promised it would be our secret. I like to watch it occasionally too..”[/color]

Looking at Danny, he got the sense he needed to get to the point. “Right. Me being here. I got lost and found my way into your room and..well, guess I got a little curious…” About wanting to know you more. Marco was lured in by convenience. It didn’t matter, not really, if he needed an excuse because the truth was, Marco wanted to be here, but he wasn’t sure if telling Danny that was the smart thing or even if he’d react in the way that might give Marco a clue. A sign that maybe that part of him months ago felt…something could come say hello to them again and make it more obvious. Or at least convince the panicked version of Marco to take a chance. [color=b8860b]“And now I’m here.”[/color]

[color=005d9e]“Curious…”[/color] Danny repeated after Marco. He needed to play it cool and think of anything but the one thing he was thinking about. His probing gaze gave the other boy a once over, pausing at the lips, before looking away. [color=005d9e]“There’s nothing interesting to see here, as you can tell. I’m the jock stereotype.”[/color] He wanted to turn away and distract himself with the drywall paint or one of his sneakers, but instead he casually stepped closer, going around the bed to gesture at his desk which didn’t have his laptop on it. Instead it was covered with his woodshop projects this past year. [color=005d9e]“I guess these are kind of neat? Might show I’m more than just a dumb jock.”[/color]

Glancing towards his desk, Marco saw them. During his detailed journey around Danny’s room earlier, how could he not have noticed them? Well, that’s not true. He did notice them. He noticed them but didn’t pay much attention to them because he didn’t know what he knew now: Danny made them. Danny made them with his own hands. In a slow, yet fleeting moment, he looked at his crush of three years. [color=b8860b]“These are by far the second coolest thing in the room!”[/color] Marco excitedly exclaimed. It was odd because he was losing a squash match to his anxiety and nerves just a few minutes ago, but now Marco felt relaxed. Was it because of the wooden figurines on his desk? Or maybe it was something more? Maybe Danny not immediately flipping out on him being in his room was the start of it. 

He stepped closer to the desk, just examining it closer, noticing one in particular that caught his immediate interest. He picked the one that looked like Wall-E up. [color=b8860b]“This is so cool! It looks just like Wall-E. I didn’t know you knew about it.”[/color] Like a kid in a candy store, Marco then stumbled on the miniature Skee-Ball masterpiece. [color=b8860b]“And you even did Skee-Ball!”[/color] There was a sense of wonderment in Marco’s voice, almost forgetting where he was and getting lost at the amount of skill it must have taken to craft these. [color=b8860b]“Just incredible! You’re really talented, Danny. You know that, right?”[/color]

As Marco gushed about his projects, Danny carefully observed him, distracted by the boy’s lips. He lingered on the words that the woodshop creations were the second coolest thing in the room. That made him wonder… What else in his room did Marco like? He hadn’t even realized with every passing word, he had inched closer to the other boy. Half of his body behind Marco, while the other half leaned over to demonstrate each projects’ functions. 

The miniature [url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/meredithmakers/products/images/zoom/GR-01323.jpg]skee-ball[/url] functioned just like the real deal, perfect for a bartop to keep drunks occupied. [url=https://i0.wp.com/cdn.makezine.com/uploads/2008/12/wallewood1.jpg?resize=600%2C698&ssl=1]Wall-E’s[/url] arms, neck, and treads moved so it wasn’t a complete statue. There was more to it than something that was nice to look at. Unfortunately it had to be done manually but if he had more time with it last semester, he would’ve tried to reach out to someone to help him make his project work with a remote control. His current project, more for himself than school, was unfinished and most of the pieces were in the shed, where his father set his son up with an at-home workshop. It seemed that Danny was in the process of carving a whole chess set. Instead of answering Marco’s question, the captain of the Celtics asked, [color=005d9e]“You said these were the second coolest things in my room… what’s the first?” [/color]

[color=b8860b]“Is that what I said?”[/color] For a moment, Marco could feel himself panicking for a few reasons. Knowing that he knew what he said was one, but when Danny fixated on it, that only added to the sudden shift in his demeanor. As he felt his throat go just a bit drier than before, he had to think about how he was going to phrase this. Marco knew if he wasn’t careful, he would expose himself to the one person he wanted almost as badly as he wanted to be a professional football/soccer player. That’s how badly he yearned for Danny Belmonte’s attention. Sure, right now he had it but he wanted it in a whole [i]deeper[/i] way.

[color=b8860b]“Well, what I meant..”[/color] He was struggling to find the right way to say it. So he would just do it. Looking at Danny, though he kept his hands mostly to himself, he let his gaze linger on the boy. [color=b8860b]“You are. I mean, you are so talented! From being the captain of our basketball team to the amazing masterpieces on your desk.”[/color] Marco’s face was getting hotter and hotter, but not as hot as he found Danny Belmonte… [color=b8860b]“I wish I had your skills for making these with my hands. Only thing I can do that’s even close to that is play Football…sorry, I mean soccer.”[/color] He let out a nervous laugh. He wasn’t intentionally trying to look away from Danny or avoid his gaze, but right now, if he kept looking at Danny, he knew something would happen. Something he would do and he wasn’t sure what the outcome of that might be.

Marco was rambling. He did that alot. He also admired and complimented him often. Danny wasn’t naive. He knew how Marco felt, more than he’d ever admit. This wouldn’t be the first time his friend, this geek in front of him, word-vomited sweet nothings to him. This wouldn’t be the first time Marco Brady got inside his head. It wasn’t until Marco looked away that Danny felt this sudden annoyance and ache overtake him, flooding his senses. 

[color=005d9e][i]Don’t look away from me.[/i][/color]

His heart beat faster and faster as he tried to contain the beast. Danny rooted his feet to the floor, trying not to lose himself in the moment. His yearning overwhelmed him and yet, he didn’t want Marco to withdraw and run away. Danny needed him. He didn’t know how he got this far but he needed him. He needed a boy and he needed him right now.

Coming from behind, Danny wrapped his arms around his friend, gently turning Marco’s head so he could catch his gaze. He wanted to kiss Marco’s ear, neck, and clavicle. He wanted to kiss Marco’s forehead, nose, and lips. He wanted to kiss… everything. Tightening his hold, he gave into his deepest desire and planted a kiss eagerly onto Marco’s delicate lips. Softly at first to get a read of the other boy’s reaction. His hunger was far too great at this point and he was finding himself struggling to pull back. The kiss only building in intensity. Danny wanted him. He wanted him bad. 

When Danny had wrapped his muscular arms around him and kissed him, Marco was stunned. Shocked. Frozen in place. He felt almost paralyzed by the suddenness his longtime crush’s action. He had always wanted a sign. Something that could tell him he wasn’t alone in this. A sign that would make it clear to Marco that his crush wasn’t just a one-sided thing and it wasn’t what he feared worse and unrequited. In the back of his mind, he still thought that maybe he was reading too much into this, but he wasn’t [i]that[/i] naive. He was Marlena Castillo and Colin Brady’s son, for god sake. Grandson of Emilio Castillo. 

Marco wasn’t stupid. Marco wasn’t a fool.

Or maybe he was, but he was a fool who crushed on the man embracing him from behind for [i]three[/i] years. THREE YEARS! Any sane person or someone who wasn’t such a fool like Marco could be sometimes would have moved on, but he always held out hope. Any glimmer of hope, a thread that led to the neon sign that was this moment.

God, his heart was on fire. Beating uncontrollably both because of what was happening but also because of the sudden realization of what Marco felt in his gut to be true. Since that day when Danny took him to that spot, told him about the Clover Curse, there was something between them that changed. He thought he was going crazy. Marco could have sworn he was going crazy, but right now, he knew he wasn’t. Danny was kissing him and by all heavenly fathers: Jesus Christ and all others that exist in whatever religion they are worshiped in, it was magnificent. He couldn’t do much of anything because he was still in a euphoric state of shock, the paralysis of it all making him as still as a statue. Part of him didn’t want this moment to end.

[color=b8860b][i]Don’t let it end here. [b]Please![/b][/i][/color]

Pressing himself so Marco could [i]feel[/i] him, Danny let his appetite drive his actions. He intensely stared into Marco’s pretty, light brown eyes, hoping that was enough for him to understand his feelings. When Marco moaned into his lips that sent him over, Danny made a trail of kisses to all the places he wanted to make his, lingering on the neck and sucking at it. It wasn’t until he was getting ready to loosen his pants and pull down Marco’s when he heard his dad, over the music from his room, announce the antipasto and steak kabobs were done, and gloat about his wife’s meatballs. That’s when Danny suddenly jerked away. 

And just like that, Marco’s dream was cut short, his face was almost as full of panic as he noticed Danny’s was. Was it because of what he heard too? Mr. Belmonte announced the food was done?

Retreating, his [i]want[/i] clearly visible, Danny ran both his hands through his hair and rested them behind his head, interlocking his finger. He made sure to give enough distance between the two so he wouldn’t do anything stupid again. [color=005d9e]“Sorry… I don’t know what came over me. I shouldn’t have did that.”[/color] He could only imagine how his father would react if he found out his son kissed a boy, and he liked it. [color=005d9e]“Just...”[/color] He could feel and hear his heartbeat. Anxious from what he just did. Danny Belmonte was not gay. He dated and slept with girls all the time. This was just a phase and didn’t mean anything. Marco didn’t mean anything. [color=005d9e]“…forget this ever happened.”[/color] He was uncomfortable and hard but he knew, for both of their sakes, this was for the best. Marco didn’t know Tiziano Belmonte… not like Danny did. He didn’t know why this was possibly the worst thing Danny could do as the only son of Taz. Danny was not okay and he couldn’t take back what he did. Yet, as he looked at Marco, he knew he still wanted him. God he wanted him so bad. 

It took Marco a few moments longer than it usually would to register exactly what had just happened. To understand [i]why[/i] Danny pulled away when he did. Before either of them heard Mr. Belmonte, it was heaven. A heaven that was pushing Marco to the max and that held his tongue in a silencing vice grip, but it was as close to everything he had dreamed of and more. But when he realized what was really happening, Marco didn’t know this feeling. To be ashamed of oneself even in the face of your parents, or maybe especially in the face of your parents. But maybe that just went to show how much Marco knew and how lucky he was to not only have a family who accepted him for who he was, but loved him even more because he wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t too naive to think that others had it just as fortunate but seeing how Danny acted, it dawned on him that this was the worst case scenario for him. 

When Danny started to apologize, part of Marco was angry. Of course, not at Danny. Never at Danny. He was angry that Danny’s father could make him feel like this. [color=b8860b]“Danny…”[/color] He wanted to reach for his hand, but that would be the wrong thing to do. He had so many thoughts running through his mind right now, but all of them were wanting to just hug Danny. [color=b8860b]“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Or anything that might risk getting caught. We can just go back out there right now and rejoin everyone, but…”[/color] He mentally said a few hail mary’s and reached for Danny’s hand as gently as he could. [color=b8860b]“I’m not going anywhere. I…care about you. A lot actually. My reason for even coming to your room was because of that. I thought if I could find a sign, to know you better, maybe I could get the courage and confess even half of what I’ve been carrying around for the past three years.”[/color] As he went on a ramble again, Marco did something he normally didn’t: he kept his gaze on Danny, hoping in some way he could see how Marco meant every word. [color=b8860b]“I just needed you to know that.”[/color]

Oh hell. 

Listening to Marco, as he never turned away from him, never looked away, only made Danny want him more. Dirty thoughts aside, the fact that Marco wanted him for three years around the same time Danny started realizing that he might not be as straight as he was raised to be put the jock between a rock and a [i]hard[/i] place. Quite literally a hard place. [color=005d9e]“Look at me, Marco,”[/color] Danny growled, as he buried the thought of his father’s voice in the back of his mind, to be with this boy that drove him crazy. He inched closer and reached for his hand, placing it on his chest. His heart beat like crazy. [color=005d9e]“Does it look like I don’t want you? Just [i]feel[/i] me.”[/color] He gently guided his crush’s hand downward to do exactly what he commanded. To [i]feel[/i] him. 

[color=005d9e]“I [b]want[/b] you. I [b]want[/b] you [b]bad[/b]. And not just right now,”[/color] Danny released Marco’s hand to hold his face, to caress his bottom lip with his thumb. Briefly, the Captain cherished the sight of the boy he was growing so fond of, gliding the back of his fingers on Marco’s right cheek. He held him dearly, as someone he wanted to be with. Beyond teenage sex, beyond friends. [color=005d9e]“I’ll be real, I’m terrified. My dad isn’t a bad dad, he just was raised in religion. But I’m his only son…”[/color] Danny breathed, as he leaned forward, resting his forehead against his almost lover. [color=005d9e]“That doesn’t change that all I do is think about you. I can’t say when it’s started but you’re all that’s on my mind. All the time. I can’t even kiss a girl without thinking about how badly I want you.”[/color] 

Everything in Marco went from panicpanicpanic to another form of it, but in the best, unexpected, welcomed, absolutely-wonderful ways. When Danny grabbed his hand and guided him down, Marco felt everything he had been experiencing when it came to the boy in front of him. Every night of dreaming of this moment, fantasizing of it, doing whatever he could to relieve himself of the thoughts that filled his mind any time he thought about Danny Belmonte came flooding back with a vengeance. 

Any time that Marco tried to speak, tried to form a thought - it was a moot point. A moot point because anything he could think or say was blocked out by [i]this[/i] moment and by how badly Danny wanted him. Just as much, if not more, than Marco wanted [i]him[/i]. 

As he brought a hand up to Danny’s cheek, he just spoke, [color=b8860b]“Then nobody has to know. We don’t have to let anyone know but us.”[/color]  He knew what he was saying. Marco understood the implications but he didn’t care about any of that right now. All he wanted was to be with Danny. It became obvious to him that any hope of that being as a public anything went out the window when Danny went into a panic when he heard his father and even the slightest risk of getting caught was possible. He moved closer, close to the point where his chest and his body was pushing against Danny’s gently. [color=b8860b]“I just want you. I [i]need[/i] you, Danny. It’s…all I’ve ever wanted.”[/color]

That’s all Danny needed to hear, for as long as time would allow it. For as long as he could make this last. Danilo Belmonte didn’t say anything more. Instead he went in to taste their shared breath. He wanted to feel the thud in their combined heartbeats as he led this dance that he yearned for. That he couldn’t stop himself from doing. That he wanted so bad that it was impossible to restrain himself. Marco was forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden and he wanted to taste it and eat it whole. 

Their clothes began to fumble onto the floor…

There was a moment the chatter from outside did cause the two almost lovers to freeze but Danny was quick to change his playlist and turn up the volume. His dad was drinking and it was louder outside than it was in Danny’s bedroom. No one was going to interrupt them, especially since his mom had said she’d make sure of it. With no more interruptions, the Italian boy, the captain of the Edenridge Celtics, swept his tongue into Marco’s mouth again. Nothing between their bodies… finally, he would make this adorable, dorky and spirited geek his. Marco would be his.

Even if only in secret. 
[/indent][/indent][/color]