[for Bobby] Secrets and Lies [Late April]

[prodigalflame]

They were snuggled up on the couch watching an animated movie, because it had been a long week: a long week of marking and frustration for John, and a long week of studying and planning for Bobby. But things had started to take shape, now that there was a List, and an increasing determination to hold onto this, to hold onto London, as if the rest of the world was on another planet.

Because here they could be dorks and live together and snuggle on couches. Here John could drop a kiss to Bobby's hair as his boyfriend rested his head on his shoulder. Here John could actually be a sappy-as-fuck asshole who could admit to liking animated movies. Here, nothing else much mattered beyond their shared language of grins and kisses and morning coffee and lazy blowjobs.

Here, John had said 'I love you', and meant it.

And then the house phone rang, and John shifted a little to look at his boyfriend, one hand still on the side of Bobby's head, keeping him close and warm. He certainly wasn't expecting any calls: most people in London used his cell (sorry, mobile) number. It was mostly his mom who used it, and ugh. There was an unspoken question in his eyes: You want me to get that?

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[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby frowned back, just as baffled by the house phone ringing. He sighed and gave a little shrug. One of them had to get it, and if John was willing, he'd let him do it. It was probably for him, anyway. It wasn't like Bobby had ever gotten a call on that line. In return, he reached for the remote to pause the movie so John wouldn't miss it while dealing with whoever was calling.

[prodigalflame]

John got up and clambered over the back of the couch to grab the kitchen handset before it went to the machine. His mom always hated getting the machine, and he assumed it was her. Or some fucking telemarketer. "Allerdyce and Roberts household, how may I direct your call?" Because he did remember Bobby's legal name at least, even if he was being a bit of a smart-ass. His eyes widened as the person on the other line spoke to him, his manner instantly subdued and also a bit tense, from the stiffness of his shoulders. "...Uh, of course, I'll put him on."

Taking the handset from his ear, he crossed back into the living room to extend it to Bobby like it was something poisonous. 'It's your mom,' he mouthed - feeling sorry for Bobby. He was sure Bobby was going to be lying through his teeth during this conversation, and well, that didn't really trouble him as much as it used to. Drake had to do what he had to do, and that included lying to narrow-minded asshole parents.

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby stifled a groan, shoulders slumping a little. He wasn't exactly looking forward to talking to his mom in front of John, of his boyfriend listening to the lies and evasions he would have to tell.

He grabbed the handset and shifted to sit on the arm of the couch, a tension in his body that wasn't there a moment ago as he put it to his ear. "Hey, mom. Yeah, that was my roommate." He flashed an apologetic smile at John for the first of many half-truths as he listened to his mother talk, wincing at her next comment. "Yeah, actually, that's him. Funny coincidence, huh?" God, why did she have to have such a good memory for names?

[prodigalflame]

John didn't really mind the evasions. At least he didn't take them personally, and it wasn't like his record had been spotless. Hiding kinky sex toys aside, John Anderson? Really? That had been the best he could come up with, in a life away from Pyro.

At the wince, and the sound of Bobby's reply, John made a face, and then did a cutting gesture across his throat, before throwing himself face-down onto the couch. Oh man. Why couldn't Bobby just abort the call? This was gonna be fucking painful.

[cold_blueeyes]

If Bobby hadn't been getting an earful of "concerned lecture," he would have had to stifle a chuckle at John's antics. "He's not like that now, mom," he said in a low voice. "People grow up." He listened in silence for another minute, eyes on John, and then said, "No, I won't, but I don't think you need to worry about it. Anyway, what did you call about?"

[prodigalflame]

At the sound of Bobby's words and that low voice, John immediately pushed himself up off the couch and onto all fours. The bitch. His eyes bore into Bobby's face like he could send his indignation down the phone line somehow, lips pressed flat and exhaling through his nose. He kept his gaze on Bobby as he talked, but didn't know what he could offer: 'I don't even know why she hates me now!' he mouthed, annoyed and more than a little bit irritated. What the fuck was a guy supposed to do when the world changed around him, anyway? It's not like he could damn well ask her, and he hadn't really broached the topic with Bobby in any detail.

At the same time, hearing Bobby grumpily defend him in that low, assertive tone? That was kind of hot.

[cold_blueeyes]

John's expression made Bobby squirm a little, loathe to have him listen to any more of this conversation, even if he was only getting Bobby's side of it from this end. He turned away and headed for the other room as he said quietly into the phone, "Yeah, about that. We--should probably talk about that."

[prodigalflame]

Oh no. No you don't. Resolute now, and less simply uncomfortable, John got up off the couch with a determined expression and followed after, planting himself in the doorway. "I'm not letting you go through this alone," he mouthed, and rested against the doorway like a fixed reminder that this wasn't so much about nosing in on Bobby's secrets as making sure Bobby didn't feel John was gonna abandon him or anything.

Okay, so listening in was just a bonus. Couples could share some of their secrets, right?

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby shot John an exasperated look as he appeared in the doorway, but didn't fight it. "Well, here's the thing, mom. I'm thinking about staying in London." He paused, closing his eyes as he listened. 'I don't know how long." Another brief pause as his mother asked him questions. "I really like it here. I have stuff going on." He shot John a wry smile, since he was a large part of said 'stuff'. "And there are some more classes I'd like to take, and just...a lot of reasons, okay?"

[prodigalflame]

At that wry smile from Bobby, John blushed - just a little, woah, we weren't going too insane here - and ran fingers through his hair to comb it back behind an ear. As much as he liked his current look, it was hard to manage sometimes. He patted where his heart was twice with his right hand, and pointed at Bobby with his index finger, mouthing a 'Love you too'. He knew Bobby wasn't able to tell his folks. But John could always tell him at least, and stood there, crossing his arms over his chest, surprisingly content. He'd go if Bobby told him to. Really. Probably.

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby smiled at him and blew a silent kiss, the smile fading as he listened to the phone. "I know, mom, but--this is my choice. It'll be okay. I promise." He paused, listening again. "No, I'm okay right now. Thanks. I'll probably come back to Boston at some point this summer to take care of some loose ends. I'll let you know what my plans are."

[prodigalflame]

They could get through this. Really. Even with crazy parents and lies and general world-weirdness, they could get through this. John felt that even as Bobby's smile faded, because they had something, here. And getting Bobby Drake to be willing to lie for you was a big effort. So he waited until the call was done and didn't push things any further.

[cold_blueeyes]

"Okay. I'll call you soon, okay? Love you. Bye." As the call disconnected, his shoulders dropped, tension easing from him as he ended the call and went to hang up the receiver. "Sorry," he said with a small smile, turning to John.

[prodigalflame]

Seeing that tension ease, John went to him and gave him a loose hug, inching up to brush his lips across Bobby's forehead. "It's okay," he promised, "I understand." Bobby had never wanted to disappoint his parents - hell, he'd never wanted to disappoint anyone, which probably explained why he didn't talk to anyone from school anymore. Cutting himself off seemed like the reasonable option. "We can finish the movie or we can go to bed a little early," John told him, easing him back the way they'd come to the living room with a hand on Bobby's back.

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby shook his head a little, heading back to the living room at John's side. "Let's go back to the movie. I just want to relax for a little bit." Because though he wasn't as tense as he'd been during the call, he was still fairly keyed up after dealing with his mom in front of John. He needed a little bit of nice, mindless distraction and maybe some snuggling, and some physical reassurance that John didn't take his little white lies personally wouldn't hurt, either.

[prodigalflame]

"Sure thing," and John moved ahead to jump over the back of the couch like a loon and situate himself, ready and comfortable. Glancing back at his boyfriend, John spread his arm across the back of the couch suggestively: "You get your ass here, Drake, because I wanna snuggle, and I'll grab someone off the street if I have to," he mock-threatened, smile in his eyes and the remote in his free hand.