Comfort~

The blankets lay haphazardly on the couch, a disordered pile of light greens with a small yellow one tossed in. It probably wouldn’t do much to keep anyone warm, but it brightened up the pile and could work as a pillow if needed.

Carter dropped onto the couch with a soft thud, one arm draped over the backrest while the other reached for a blanket. He tugged one free after a bit of effort, careful not to pull the whole pile down or drag it all into his lap. His thoughts drifted to Aiden, who had gone to the bedroom after dinner.

They had spent the evening in light banter, but the mood shifted when Carter gave him a stern look, insisting that Aiden take the bedroom. Aiden’s body had trembled slightly, and Carter noticed the way his eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. After that, Aiden had kept his gaze low, avoiding eye contact as he silently made his way to bed.

A sense of dread settled in Carter’s chest as he replayed the moment in his mind. His intentions had been pure—surprisingly so, considering nothing pure ever seemed to come from inviting someone into his space. But this time was different. He had only wanted to be firm, to make sure Aiden had a comfortable bed for the night, yet somehow, he had scared him. He didn’t know why, but Aiden had made it clear with his reaction, even if he hadn’t said anything.

Carter had been tempted to reach out, to hold Aiden and whisper something reassuring, but he’d stopped himself. Aiden was already nervous, and any touch, even from someone he trusted, might have pushed him further away.

Sighing, Carter leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. He felt terrible for how things had played out and wanted to make it right. Maybe breakfast in bed tomorrow? But waiting until morning felt wrong. He didn’t want Aiden to spend the whole night upset, especially with it being his first day of school tomorrow.

He needed to do something now, something to make things right. His mind churned until an idea clicked into place.

The creak of the floorboards grew louder as Carter padded into the kitchen, the sound stopping only when his feet met the cool tiles. He opened and closed a few cabinets, their noisy thuds echoing through the apartment until he found what he was looking for.

A few minutes later, he headed back toward the bedroom, pausing just outside the door. His eyes caught the faint glow of light beneath it. Aiden was still awake.

Slowly, Carter turned the handle and pushed the door open.

His smile faltered the moment he saw Aiden. He placed the mug he was holding on a nearby dresser and stepped into the room.

Aiden looked at him, wide-eyed and tear-streaked. There were no fresh tears, but the wetness on his cheeks and the redness beneath his eyes told Carter everything he needed to know. Aiden was scared—scared of being caught crying.

With shaky hands, Aiden clutched his legs to his chest, his forced smile never reaching his eyes.

“Aiden,” Carter said softly, his voice gentle, like he was speaking to a wounded animal. He moved closer, sitting at the edge of the bed, careful to keep some distance. “What’s wrong? Come here.”

He opened his arms, waiting for Aiden to come closer. “Tell me what happened.”

Aiden hesitated but eventually scooted forward, his shoulders hunched as if bracing himself for something. He stopped just short of Carter’s legs.

Carter sighed softly, dropping to his knees beside the bed. With a gentle touch, he brushed Aiden’s bangs back, tucking the hair behind his ear but leaving his hand there. “It’s okay,” Carter said, his thumb lightly grazing Aiden’s cheek where the tears had started to dry. “You can tell me, just like old times.”

But Aiden didn’t respond. He didn’t open up, at least not immediately. Carter could see it—he needed comfort, safety. They had always shared their secrets when they were alone, in places far from prying eyes. It was that feeling of solitude that made Aiden feel safe enough to talk.

Carter glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the cup of tea he’d left on the dresser and a box of heart-shaped chocolates. An idea—ridiculous, but maybe just what was needed—popped into his head.

“Aiden,” Carter said, his voice softening, “let’s eat some chocolate. It’ll cheer you up.”

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