for hallarider

[pavus_redemit]

Sundays were glorious days of nothing and Dorian planned them that way. He did all his remaining work from the week either Friday night or Saturday afternoon so that way he had Sunday free to do absolutely shit all. The only time this changed was when he wrote scholarly articles for journals. Those took all his focus and he liked to work them out over weekends. No students could bother him when he worked on them at home.

He was not a fan of organized religion but he took the phrase 'a day of rest' very seriously. Sundays were for lounging in bed, long showers and whatever was on TV that caught his interest. He would read for pleasure or spend time pleasuring himself or his lover. Sundays were wonderful days.

Which was why he was so damn annoyed that on Sunday the door bell rang around the same time he was making breakfast. That did not imply rest. It imply some sort of nosy bastard at the door. It was doubly annoying because Bramen was spending the weekend and looked adorably rumpled, hunched over his morning coffee with fresh love bites on his shoulders.

"Can you see what religious nut wants to sell God to us and make them go away? I don't want to burn the omelet," he waved towards the door with his free hand. "Tell them we're quite happy living in sin and they can wish us a merry trip to hell."

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[hallarider]

Bramen was still rather exhausted that morning, seated at the kitchen table as Dorian cooked. He had always been a light sleeper, haring a bed with Dorian wasn't always the most restful sleep but the younger man wasn't about to give it up. Even if he would wake up every time Dorian rolled over or curled in around him, a disturbed sleep while next to the man he adored so much was infinitely better than waking up alone. Though, for a moment, the redhead almost considered going back to bed for an hour, get a bit more rest and then heat breakfast back up - but he didn't. He'd drink his coffee, have breakfast and then perhaps the two men could enjoy a shower together before partaking of Dorian's favoured Day of Rest.

For now, hunched over his coffee, wearing only a pair of silken pyjama bottoms (Dorian's, of course) that were just a little too big for him. Dorian was by no means an overweight man but his clothing always looked far too large on his slender lover. Bramen's body was so thin, one was liable to think he never ate at all. Dorian knew better though, he knew his lover had quite the appetite - both in the kitchen and the bedroom. Those red love marks all over his neck and shoulders, along with those scratch marks down his back, were at least one indication of that. His murmured suggestions about what else to put in the omelette was another.

He drank his coffee, Bramen hardly registering the sound of the doorbell until Dorian made reference to it. He blinked a little blearily, rubbing his eyes and taking another sip of coffee before standing up. "I'll tell them we're not interested," Bramen murmured, stretching out. Dorian's pants slipped further down his waist, clinging low on his hips - revealing another trail of marks that followed the curve of his hip. There was no mistaking what that was from - and no doubt Dorian found that thrilling to imagine some religious fanatic taking one look at Bramen and those marks on his body, turning the other way.

Bramen made his way to the door, opening it up and creasing his brow a bit at the stranger who was there. A man in a suit but he wasn't holding a bible or any kind of pamphlet. He had the same complexion as Dorian, the same dark hair - though it was streaked with grey - and those same grey eyes. Grey eyes that immediately narrowed on Bramen, looking the young man up and down.

"Can I help--" Bramen began, before the man immediately cut him off, his accent sharp and thick.

"Where is my son?" the older man said, his voice more of a demand than a request. Bramen was silent for a moment, glancing to the floor and then to the man's face, wetting his lips. The man's gaze didn't relent, locked on Bramen, something disapproving there. Disapproving and scornful.

Uncertain what else to do, Bramen turned his head to call back to the kitchen. "Dorian? There's a man here..." he trailed off a bit, his tone indicating it wasn't a salesman or someone trying to get them into Heaven.

[pavus_redemit]

It was the voice that did it. Dorian went absolutely still for a moment before he moved the pan off the burner, turned the burner off and took a moment to tighten the tie on his robe. He didn't fully believe he was right until he stepped out of the kitchen and there he was, Halward Pavus.

"Bramen, why don't you go finish your coffee," he said as he came up behind him. He put a hand on the small of his back and rubbed a soothing circle with his fingers. His lover looked like a deer caught in the headlights. That was most peoples reactions to Halward.

"Dorian." His father's tone was disapproving which immediately set Dorian's back up.

"Don't start. What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sharp as he gently moved Bramen out of the way of the fight that is about to happen. "And why the hell didn't you call first. You know I appreciate the warning."

"Stop acting like a child. I am allowed to see my son when I want to."

"After all these years? No, you don't."

[hallarider]

Bramen moved away enough to give Dorian room, his lover getting between himself and the man at the door. The redhead's brow creased, reaching down to pull up those pants that had sunk further down his hips, pulling them up to his waist. They were quick to sink down again but at least they helped him retain a bit more modesty. He wasn't about to step back into the kitchen just yet. not when he could sense a fair bit of tension between this man and Dorian. This man who was, as Bramen could assume, his lover's father.

Bramen's hand moved to touch Dorian's hip, brushing his fingers against the man's robe. He said nothing, just lingered close to his partner, feeling the scrutinizing gaze of the stranger at the door. Dorian's father couldn't help but sneer a little at the sight, his disgust more than evident, even if he didn't outright state it. Halward cleared his throat, eyes returning to Dorian.

"I have called. Many times," the man said, looking again to Bramen, as though he could see exactly why his son was avoiding his calls, a certain level of contempt in his tone. "I see now why you have been so busy, Dorian. I see it clearly."

[pavus_redemit]

"I also have a very important career," he shot back. His father would always assume the worst. It made Dorian want to punch him. "And a father who made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with me years ago. Of course I've been ignoring your calls."

There was a lot of anger and pain boiling up in Dorian. He reached for Bramen's hand on his hip and squeezed it tightly. It was a silent apology for the bastard that had just walked in to their peaceful Sunday morning.

"I didn't come here to fight," Halward said with infinite patience. "Send your... friend home and let us talk."

"Bramen is staying. If you want to talk we can schedule a meeting and I will consider showing up."

[hallarider]

Halward's frown deepened as he looked at his son, breathing out through his nose, his shoulders visibly tensing up. His eyes flickered to the way his son held that younger man's hand, the way that scrawny redhead seemed to squeeze back. Bramen's youthful appearance and those marks all over his shoulders and down his hip told him precisely what Dorian did with the boy - that was ultimately what he looked like, after all. Of course his son would rebel like this, finding something that would upset and bother him so.

"Dorian, we are speaking now," Halward stiffened, breathing through his nose. Bramen squeezed Dorian's hand, giving it a light tug before he wet his lips.

"I can go get dressed," he said, keeping his voice quiet, though Dorian's father could hear it clearly. "I could go to work or back to campus for a while, if you want some privacy--" Whatever was going on between Dorian and his father, Bramen didn't want to get between it. It was a tense situation, he didn't much want Dorian facing it alone either. He didn't have a lot of options though, and by the sound of the older man, he had no intention of leaving.

[pavus_redemit]

"No, no, he's the one intruding." Dorian turned his back on his father to face Bramen fully. He took both his hands in his and squeezed them. "If you'd be more comfortable getting dressed go ahead but I won't turn you out."

The last thing he wanted was for Bramen to leave. This was supposed to be their day when they didn't have to deal with work and responsibilities. It was a day for each other.

His father made a noise under his breath. He stepped away from them to take a seat in one of the armchairs. Dorian wanted to glare at him for being so forward. He wanted him gone and like always his father didn't listen.

[hallarider]

There was something about Halward - the air about the man, how he carried himself - that made Bramen think of Dorian. All the same, the redhead knew making mention of that would be a terrible idea, given the circumstance. As the man's father moved over to an armchair and sat down, crossing one leg over his knee and steepled his fingers, Bramen could feel the scrutiny he was under now. He wanted to wrap his arms around Dorian, to give him some kind of comfort. It was evident that the man's father wasn't welcome but he was here, he was determined to speak with his son.

"I'll stay," Bramen said with a shake of his head, one hand still intent on holding Dorian's. The other came down to pull his pyjama pants up again, hiking them higher up on his hips. Had he known they'd be having a guest, he would've worn something more fitted. Even if this man was something of an unwanted guest.

Halward was growing impatient, not about to let his son and his toy have a moment together. The man cleared his throat and began to speak, knowing Dorian was paying attention. Even if his son rebelled, he listened when his father spoke - even if he pretended not to. "Your mother has been worried. She hasn't heard from you either," he said with something of a snort through his nose, telling Bramen there was no doubt bad blood between Dorian's parents, "This is not going to please her when she finds out." Halward wet is lips, still looking to Dorian with disapproval, gaze moving back to Bramen before returning to his son.

"At least this one answers the door with something to cover himself."

[pavus_redemit]

"Thank you," he said with another squeeze to Bramen's hand before he let go. He drew himself up like he was doing to deliver a lecture to a class before he faced his father.

"If you insult him again I will make you leave." He took a seat across from his father. "If she wanted to talk to me why are you here instead of her? Why hasn't she sent me an email? Don't use her as an excuse you use her for enough already."

Halward was not pleased with that response. His frown deepened considerably. "I thought you were going to be civil."

He laughed once, sharply. "I'm putting up with you. You can put up with me."

[hallarider]

"Can't handle me at my worst, don't deserve me at my best," Halward waved his hand dismissively before straightening, his mouth still that deep frown, particularly as Bramen stepped closer to Dorian's seat, bringing a hand to rest on Dorian's shoulder. He rubbed it a little, looking away from Halward and down towards Dorian.

"You are my son, not a primadonna," Dorian's father continued, though Bramen would argue with that statement if he felt confident. "She has tried to contact you, you have ignored us both. We grow tired of your games, we've had enough."

[pavus_redemit]

"I'm sorry, I thought I made it perfectly clear when I left your home that I was done with you and mother," he said calmly, with an eyebrow raised. He was grateful that Bramen was there to give him strength but he hated that this was how his lover found out how ugly his past really was.

"I thought that was what you wanted considering my 'deviant' behavior and unacceptable predilections."

Halward's facade cracked slightly as he shifted in his seat for a brief moment. "We were speaking in anger. I didn't think you were serious."

[hallarider]

"Dorian isn't a deviant," Bramen argued, brow creasing as he squeezed his lover's shoulder. It wasn't the ideal way to drag out Dorian's past but he was bound to find out sooner or later - maybe it was better it come out now, when he could be here to give Dorian that strength. Dorian was a man with fine tastes and a number of kinks but Bramen would never label the man a deviant, despite the age difference between them. It wasn't a huge gap but it was enough to turn a few heads, Bramen's youthful appearance not helping matters all that much.

Halward let out a sigh as Bramen spoke, opening his mouth to address the younger man before he stopped. His ire wasn't directed at the young man. This misguided youth his deviant son had lured into his bed.

"Come stay with your mother and I for a few days," Halward leaned forward in his seat, clasping his hands together as he enunciated each word, speaking to his son, "Come and see your mother. The three of us can sit down, we can discuss these things alone."

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian laughed again, so much bitterness packed in to the sound it was amazing his father's expression remained impassive.

"No and again no. I am not going back home. If you and mother want to talk we can schedule something." His tone was firm. He was not going back to the place that made him so miserable as a child and young adult. He would not go back to the place that made him want to drink his pain away.

"I'm not a child anymore and I won't be ordered around. I have a job to consider and my personal relationship. Those matter more to me than your sudden urge to reconnect."

[hallarider]

"Personal relationship," it wasn't even a question as it fell from Halward's lips, scepticism behind each syllable. The way he said it made Bramen feel all the more self-conscious, the redhead still looking away from Dorian's father, keeping his hand on Dorian's shoulder. "Your career I understand," Halward continued, Dorian's job perhaps being the only thing he'd admit to understanding about his son, "This boy less so. Another few weeks, you'll be on to the next thing that catches your eye."

Dorian could argue all he wanted about hos his father knew nothing but the man hardly had the best track record for committed relationships. If anyone knew what the man was doing in his personal time, it was Halward. His father always kept tabs on him - somehow, the man always knew. Yet the way he called Bramen a boy, it only served to emphasise how young Dorian's lover was now. Even if Bramen was a grown man, in his early twenties - Halward was going to criticise it. Just as he'd criticised every other aspect of his son.

Bramen, however, could only squeeze Dorian's shoulder. "I think I'll go get dressed," he murmured, though he really didn't want to leave Dorian alone with this man. His father's words were so scathing, it was no wonder Dorian was on the defensive now.

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian picked up Bramen's hand from his shoulder and kissed his palm. "I'm only going to undress you later," he said so his father could hear. It was deliberate. He wanted his father to see that this dalliance of his was more important to him than whatever he was saying. "But feel free to borrow something of mine."

He let go of his hand and returned his attention to his father. He wanted to throw the man out. He didn't understand why he was suddenly interested in mending fences. It was bullshit. It had to be. His father didn't want him around, embarrassing him. He knew that.

"It's very simple, father, if you want my time you have to give me a damn good reason to show up because I have other, more important things in my life."

[hallarider]

Bramen took a step away from Dorian's chair. Normally a comment like that would bring a grin to his face, be enough to make him lean in and steal a kiss. He usually enjoyed being teased and reminded of what they did behind closed doors - but right now? He wasn't feeling it. He felt so off right now thanks to Halward's presence. Even if Dorian's father was the unwanted guest in the house, he had such a commanding presence, it was almost impossible to feel comfortable. Bramen felt as though he were the one intruding, not the stranger who had come in and made himself comfortable.

Halward raised a hand and gestured for Bramen to leave, ushering him away silently.

"You will have time to play with your... Friend later, Dorian," Halward said, dismissing Bramen, pleased enough to have Dorian's toy giving them some privacy. "Get your phone, call your mother - we'll have this talk right now if you won't give us the time of day properly."

[pavus_redemit]

"I am not a little boy anymore, father, who will bend under your will. I am grown man," Dorian snapped, lashing out now that Bramen was gone. He didn't want his lover to see that side of him. He wanted to appear cool and calm in the face of his father. Now he didn't have to.

He got to his feet to pace in agitation as he ran a hand through his hair. "I am not going to call mother. You have inconvenienced me, not the other way around. What's there to talk about anyway? I am not coming home, I am not giving up my career and I am not giving up my lover. Nothing you can offer will change that or change me."

He couldn't fathom what his father wanted from this little visit. He always wanted something in the end. Dorian would not go back to the days when he was desperate for his father's love and attention. He refused.

[hallarider]

Bramen hadn't returned to the bedroom yet. He'd simply moved down the hall, towards the kitchen where he felt as though he could finally breathe. He could still hear Dorian and his father talking, wincing a bit as he heard Dorian raise his voice to the man. Bramen pressed his back to the wall, closing his eyes for a moment and feeling a bit bad for eavesdropping, but he couldn't will himself to move yet. He breathed in and just listened, hoping that the man would leave soon. He didn't like hearing Dorian getting worked up like this, he didn't know the history the man had with his father - but something about it all bothered him. It was depressing to see, upsetting as well. He breathed deep and took a step away from the wall, pausing as he heard Halward's voice again.

"What I want is to be involved in my son's life once more and to have him involved with myself and his mother," Halward spoke, words pointed and deliberate. "We have given you space, we have given you time, we have been as patient as we can manage with you. You continue to disappoint us, to rebel like a child - which is why I will treat you as one." He moved back into the chair, his mouth a stern grimace as he steepled his fingers again.

"But you are still my son."

[pavus_redemit]

"Your son who is gay," he said fiercely. "And that will never change. I'm not rebelling against you, I'm being who I am, something you could never accept."

Dorian wanted to kick something or throw things but he continued to pace instead. He hated this that after all these years and all he's accomplished he was still a child in his father's eyes. It was an unfair assessment. It also stung that all he had done was still a disappointment to his father.

"If you're so disappointed, get out."

[hallarider]

"My son," Halward paused for longer than a moment, visibly swallowing as his facade began to crumble again. The man drew in a breath, almost muttering as he continued, "Who is gay." It was perhaps the closest thing to acceptance Dorian was ever going to get from the man, the vaguest sense of acknowledgement that was still laced with a certain contempt. The man rose up to his feet, taking a step closer to Dorian in an effort to meet his rebellious son's gaze.

"Call your mother. Tell her when you are coming to stay, I will try to make sure my business does not get in the way of it. I will make time for you. Do the same for us." And with that, Halward moved towards the door to take his leave. He paused as he opened it, letting out a bit of a disappointed sound from the back of his throat.

"And tell your... Friend that eavesdropping is impolite." Before Dorian could argue or protest, Halward opened the door and saw himself out, knowing it was useless to speak to his son right now. He'd give Dorian time to have his little tantrum before trying to contact him again.

Bramen moved out from where he was in the kitchen, still in little more than those pyjama pants. His eyes were on the floor, slowly moving back towards Dorian, looking apologetic. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he murmured, frowning, "I just needed to step away for a minute... That man is your father?"

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian clenched his fist as his father left. The man was driving him mad by doing nothing more than talking to him which was actually their whole history. He wasn't listening. He didn't care what Dorian wanted, thought, or said. It was Halward's way or nothing.

Vindictively he locked the door behind his father and bolted it so that no one else was getting in. "Yes, that's Halward Pavus," Dorian said, his back towards Bramen for a moment as he gained control of his temper.

When he felt calmer he turned around and went to his lover. He reached out and ran his hands down Bramen's arms. "He is a bastard who for most of my life tried to convince me being gay was wrong and that I was sinful for being that way. When I turned eighteen I left my family because I was quite tired of being made to feel like absolute shit."

[hallarider]

"I don't blame you," Bramen said, moving a bit closer towards Dorian, bringing his arms around Dorian's middle. It was clear enough to him this was a source of pain for the man - and it wasn't surprising, not after meeting the man in person. "He's... An imposing force," Bramen frowned, hoping he wasn't out of line in saying so, leaning up a bit to kiss Dorian's chin, something in an effort to comfort him in some small way.

"Has he always been like that?" Bramen's frown remained, though concern was in his eyes now for the man before him, "Barging into your home, talking down about your... Friends?" Even though Halward had not fully addressed or acknowledged him, Bramen had been able to feel the man's distaste for him.

[pavus_redemit]

The moment Bramen wrapped him up Dorian allowed himself to relax. He laid his hands on the small on his back and his fingers dug his fingers in gently. This was one of the first time a lover had come to him instead of awkwardly trying to get away. Very few had ever done this for him.

"When I was younger it was worse," he said and rested his forehead against Bramen's. "I had no privacy, no sense of my own space. If he caught me with a boy he would throw the boy out and hopefully only yell at me. He hated it, hated me. I was... I was a massive fuck up for many, many years."

[hallarider]

Bramen turned his head, nuzzling against Dorian a little, arms still around the man. Dorian had never spoken about his past before, nothing beyond having a rather colourful youth when he was in college, little more than a passing comment at the time. Now, Bramen was starting to understand why the man had never said more. Not that Bramen talked a lot about his own past - but Dorian's world was becoming so much more clear now. He turned his head to kiss the man's chin once more, resting his nose against the man's own, hands idly rubbing at the sides of his lover's housecoat.

"It sounds like he put you through a lot..." he began, encircling his arms around Dorian once more, still frowning as he tried to comfort the man as much as possible. He started to move with the man, trying to guide him back to the kitchen, to try and put all of this out of mind. "I'm sorry you had to endure an upbringing like that... But you moved on from it, became the man you are now."

A man who's father seemed insistent on barging into his life - though Halward no doubt had his reasons. Reasons Bramen might never know to be certain. He could still be here for Dorian though, let the man vent out whatever he might need.

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian tucked his head against Bramen's shoulder. For awhile he simply breathed in the scent of him and let the warmth of him thaw the chill his father put around his heart.

"I'm sorry he insulted you like he did," he said softly. He really wanted to punch his father for that one. Bramen was innocent in the trouble between them. He shouldn't have gotten caught up in this. "You're my friend, yes, but you're more than that."

It hadn't been said so clearly before. Dorian kept his feelings, his true feelings, to himself. It was safer for his heart ad he hoped Bramen understood that now. He adored his lover, beyond the simple physical enjoyment they got from each other.

[hallarider]

The redhead paused their advance to the kitchen, standing in the doorway with Dorian leaning against him, with the man's head on his shoulder. He didn't let go of the man, not ready to sacrifice it just yet - not after what he'd just heard. How long had they been carrying on like this? A few months? At least a semester at this point but the younger man hadn't ever really questioned it or considered what it was. They had fun together. They had a lot of fun together and Dorian never seemed to mind when he stayed the night. Never seemed to mind when he stayed the weekend either or when he'd come here after work or after class to finish up his homework.

But what was all of this? He'd never really thought to label it, not until the man's father had arrived.

"More than just your friend?" he asked quietly, hands trailing up and down Dorian's back. He cracked a bit of a smile, a soft laugh coming through his nose. "I'd hope so - considering you were making me breakfast."