June 17, 2015, 7 p.m.
Hidden: Best Thing
E - Words: 3,263 - Last Updated: Jun 17, 2015 Story: Complete - Chapters: 46/? - Created: Oct 24, 2014 - Updated: Oct 24, 2014 181 0 0 0 0
By the next day, Archer and Hunters relationship had gone back to the way it was before their breakup, with the two of them pestering each other until their cheeks were dark with frustration, and laughing at the dinner table with his parents, whom accepted Hunter back into the fold of their family without hiccup. After they finished their meal, Hunter had grabbed a plate of leftovers to take home to his dad, and he left at a respectful time, brushing a kiss over Archers lips before he vanished into the black of night. When Archer went back inside, his parents had sat with him and asked him what had happened between him and his ex-fiancé to bring them back together, a story that he told with some editing, leaving out the parts where he had almost strangled his cousin, and then kissed Hunter with his back against a wall.
The next morning, Archer showed up at school with a confident stride in his step, and he found his fiancé outside of the main doors. Although his parents had initially gotten their way in removing Archer from the lower English class, hed later had them call the school back and tell them to reinstate Archer in the class, now that he and Hunter were back together. Archer hooked his elbow through Hunters, feeling proud to walk beside of his fiancé, who drew in the gazes of anyone they passed by in the hallways. He knew that they were an odd looking couple, his fiancé tall, slender, and dark, and Archer shaped and colored like the moon, round and pale. They didnt make sense, not even to Archer himself, but he didnt care as he rested his head against Hunters brawny bicep.
Hunter opened the door for Archer, nudging him inside of the classroom. They had ten minutes left before the first bell rang, so they were the only ones in the room. Archer sat down in his usual seat, while Hunter took the one next to his. "You know, my parents are going to join us in the auditorium tonight. I told them that Mr. Schuester wanted to see them."
Hunter snorted, "I guess you wont be sitting in my lap tonight." He joked, even though he looked a little disappointed. As a couple of students poured into the classroom, Hunter leaned over and nibbled at Archers earlobe. "Do you have our paper with you?"
"Oh!" Archer bent to grab the latch on his bag, popping it open and digging through for the paper. "Yes, and I read it last night." His cheeks colored pink as he remembered Hunters descriptive words of what he remembered of the scenery, and how his brain had been clouded from the beauty of it by the feeling of breath on his face, and soft skin brushing against his. Although he hadnt given Archers name, and had made it vague enough that the being that had disturbed Hunters serenity in the woods didnt even sound human, Archer still felt stripped naked, as if anyone who read the paper would get an insider look on the love they shared. "I just feel bad that I didnt put anything into it. Im sorry I put all of the work onto you."
"I dont blame you for it. You didnt take a week off of school unwarranted." Hunter reminded him, taking back the piece of paper. "Besides, I liked writing this. It made me remember when we started to fall in love at the woods."
The rest of the day went by without a hitch, with the two of them separating for a few hours to attend to their separate classes, and then joining back up to eat lunch together. Hunter found him inside of his classroom and escorted him to their secret spot outside of the school. Lowering onto the staircase and splaying his knees, Hunter motioned for Archer to bend down. He did as hed been told, laughing as Hunter kissed him and dragged him onto his lap. Plopping down with his legs on either side of Hunters skinny hips, Archer curved his arms around his neck. "Im too heavy. Arent you uncomfortable like this?"
Hunter shook his head, drifting his hand down Archers back and pinching his bottom, "Not at all. And youre not heavy enough, my love. When were married, Im going to feed you meals fit for a king and fatten you up. By the time Im through with you, youll be so round that Ill have to carry you everywhere. Youll never lift a finger."
Archer snickered, "Goodness, I guess it was the right choice to not go to college for dance classes."
His affectionate fiancé grinned from ear to ear, hearing Archer crinkle his lunch bag and pull out a cold, egg salad, and a container of sliced apples that were dressed in apple juice and brown sugar. Packaged in foil were two toasted Swiss and mayonnaise sandwiches that made Archer lick his lips. Pulling out one of the small water bottles that had leaked drips of water into the bottom of the bag, Archer took a swig to wet his tongue, and then he held it up to Hunters lips when he gestured with his hand. "Thank you for the lunch." Archer said softly, picking up half of a sandwich and biting a half-moon out of it. The tangy cheese spread over his tongue, making him moan as he smacked his lips.
Hunters eyes glinted, "Thank you for enjoying it so much." Blushing when he realized what Hunter was talking about, Archer shut his eyes as his fiancé scratched his nails over his nape. Archer finished his sandwich with a few more bites, and then he picked up Hunters as he scooped chunks of apples into his mouth. Hunter raised his brows when Archer poked his mouth with the sandwich. "I thought I was supposed to be the one stuffing you with food."
Archer smiled, tilting his head and nuzzling at the soft spot under his jaw, which moved up and down as he chewed. "Open your mouth." Hunter swallowed the apples and parted his lips, and Archer stuck a corner of the sandwich between his teeth. "You know what they call this in French? Sandwich au Suisse et la mayonnaise."
Hunter tore off the edge that Archer put in his mouth, letting it slide down his throat before he replied, "What do they call an apple?"
"Pomme." Archer fed him a dribbling, juicy apple, wiping at his bottom lip with his finger when the sauce splashed him. Bending and kissing his mouth, he left his lips there for a second before he pulled off with a pop.
"The French have a talent for making a school lunch sound sexy." Hunter chuckled sardonically, raising his head and brushing his mouth over Archers once more. "You help a little."
When Archer agreed to marry Hunter, he thought that he knew everything about his future husband, but he found that not to be the case as Hunter made it his undertaking to surprise him at least once a day. Because of how adverse Hunter seemed to be willing to show his personality in front of others, he didnt expect his fiancé to lavish him in kisses and murmur sweet nothings the way he did when they were tucked away in privacy, but Hunter proved him wrong in the way that he did everything else, in large steps.
Archer stayed a few minutes after his classmates and teacher had piled through the door to talk with his cousin, Jen, who took the class with him. He wasnt very close to Jen because she occupied most of her time with reading farther ahead in her schoolbooks, and writing essays for scholarships to one of the top schools in America. She was a very bright girl who had her mind set on law school since some kids her age were learning to ride bikes. She had spent the last year dating a boy who was nearly identical to her, except with the different career path of wanting to be a doctor, but she had said that she felt he was holding her back from her studies, so she broke things off.
Archer, who had, in her eyes, recklessly become engaged to a man who made her want to expire on the spot, copied down the pages that had been assigned for the class to read last week. He managed a quiet thanks before the air was knocked from his lungs as a pair of long arms enveloped around his middle, drawing him snugly into a lean torso. "Hello to you, too." Archer said amusedly, knowing exactly who was standing behind him. He smelled his heady cologne, which was especially strong on the flat expanse of his throat. "Jen, Im sure youve met my awkward fiancé, Hunter. Hunter, this is my youngest cousin, Jen."
"Weve never spoken." Hunter admitted, playing with the flimsy lobe of Archers ear like a bored cat. "And Im not awkward."
"Youre a big lug, and you know it." Archer stuck his notebook back into his bag, giving Jen an appreciative smile, "Thanks again for catching me up on the homework."
Jen nodded, waving as she maneuvered by Hunters bulky form. Rolling his eyes, Archer spun around to face his fiancé, accepting his kiss before he spoke, "I think you scared her off. What are you doing? I told you that I would meet you in the auditorium." Archer quirked his brows when Hunter held out a blue daisy, a gesture that Archer gawked at. "What is this? You dont give me flowers. Have you done something wrong? If youve been kissing Beth again, Ill knock you in your-"
"Shut up." Hunter pressed his mouth to Archers, bringing a gentle smile onto his lips. "And take the flower. Theyve started selling them for Valentines Day."
Archer plucked the flower from his fiancés fingers, twirling the fragile stem, "Mm... what a good fiancé you are to me. You know, I didnt take you for the kind of guy to celebrate Valentines Day. Its much too gushy for a big, burly guy like you."
Hunter chuckled, clapping his hand over Archers mouth. He jerked it back when Archer stuck his tongue out and licked it. "If you tell anyone, Ill throttle you."
Archer emphatically shook his head, "Oh, no. We wouldnt want anyone to think that youre a nice guy. My lips are sealed."
Hunter kissed him again, "Just the way I like them." Snickering as Hunter whisked him out of the room, Archer trailed after his long-legged fiancé, who slowed down his steps so Archer didnt have to trot to keep up.
"You know, youre a very untraditional fiancé." Archer informed him, watching his lips flip upward as if he took the statement as a compliment. "You would make a proper, married couple blush at the way you treat me."
Hunters white teeth flashed in his tawny face, "Theres nothing proper about me, my love. But youre not exactly what any charming prince would dream about, either. Youre too..." he sought out the right word, while Archers brows shot up, "Youre too frumpy."
"Frumpy?" Archer squabbled, pushing at Hunters chest. Laughing, Hunter swatted his hand off, not teetering back an inch. Archer wished he was stronger, so he could whack Hunter upside his head and leave a dent. "I am not frumpy! Of all of the petty insults you could have come up with, you... you big, stupid cad!" Archer straightened up like a rod, flustered and annoyed, when Hunter threw a large hand up to his mouth, smothering the snort that slid through his tight lips. Putting his hand on his knee, Hunter shook with noisy laughter. Tears beaded in the corners of his eyes, and Hunter wiped at them before they could escape. An indignant sound spewed from Archers mouth, "You think this is funny? I would slug you in your head if it wasnt so hard-"
"Oh, dear." Archer turned his head at the sound of a light voice that carried down the hallway, and a bright smile spread across his face at the sight of his parents, hands held tight between them. "Theyre not even married, and theyre already at each others throats."
Hunter slowly rose when his future in-laws approached, settling down from his uncontrolled laughter as he wrapped Archers pére in his arms. As his daddy held onto the small, curly haired boy, he lifted a questioning brow at Hunter. "Did I hear you call my son frumpy? What an unusual insult. You could have at least added on that hes loud and demanding." Archer squirmed to free himself, but he held onto him tighter, leaning over to bestow a gentle kiss on his husbands lips. "He gets that from his pére."
His daddy finally released him, heading forward a few steps with Hunter. Archer hurried to catch up, but a tug at his sleeve drew him back, and he found himself gazing at a pale, smiling face. "You look happy, sweetheart." His pére said softly, his face screwing up for a brief moment. "Besides the fact that you were threatening to punch your fiancé. Blaine and I have never gotten into quarrels the way that you two do."
Archer uncertainly stared at his pére, wondering what he meant by that. "You think Hunter is good for me, Pére?"
His pére nodded, sliding their fingers together. "Yes. Its not wrong for you two to bicker, or even fight the way that you did two weeks ago, as long as you remind Hunter that hes made promises, and any problems can work out. Every relationship is different, my dear. Your dad is good to me. Hes a quiet man who understands what I need, even before I say it. Hes a tender husband. I think a relationship like mine would bore you. Hunter entertains you. He perks you up. Hell be a very affectionate husband. His sense of humor is a bit... vulgar for my taste, but hes a loving man nonetheless. Hes very interested in you, and hell give you the freedom to be who you want to be. I dont think Im far off when I predict that hell spoil you."
Archer stepped through the door that led into the auditorium, his eyes flickering over to Hunter, who was walking down the aisle so he could collect his painting supplies from the stage. "Hunter has started to write a story, you know." Saying those words was a relief to Archer, who had worried that his fiancé would never stop focusing on the terrible things his dad did to him and recounting them in that journal. He seemed to be moving on, now that he had some makeshift future, and a small family, to look forward to having. "If we ever have children, I hope theyll read what hes written and feel proud to have him as their dad."
His pére squeezed his hand, "How wonderful that would be, Archer. Someday, I might be able to read his stories. Maybe hell choose to do more with them." He stroked Archers cheek, pressing a kiss to the pink spot, and then left his side in favor of returning to his husband. Archer remained where he was, watching Hunter speak briefly to Schuester, while he sorted through the blank pieces of cardboard. With Hunter, he wasnt going to live a peaceful life, like his pére did. He and his fiancé had high tempers, which were matched in the lengths of their fuses, and how easily they were lit. But, when they werent strangling each other, their passions would get the best of them, and they would spend the rest of their time in bed. Archer couldnt wait to start his life with Hunter.
His fiancé climbed back off of the stage, with Schuester dawdling after him. Before the two of them got halfway down the aisle, Archer heard his pére squeal. He picked up his thin skirt and skipped over to his former teacher, who he hugged warmly. He chattered easily to Schuester, asking him about his marriage, and what McKinley had been like over the past sixteen years. Schuester chuckled at the rapid slew of questions, freeing himself from the bouncy blond as he hugged Archers daddy.
Grinning as his parents sat with the teacher and spoke to him about their own marriage, and how well Archer was doing, Archer gasped when he felt another presence hovering behind him. He whirled around, a huge smile breaking onto his face as he threw his arms around his fiancé. Hunter nodded for him to sit down, handing him a few bottles of paint. "Do you want to help me paint a few of these?"
"Really?" Archer asked excitedly, taking a paintbrush from Hunter and considering one of the white cutouts of cardboard. "What are these supposed to be?"
Rubbing his finger over a mark that he had made on the lid, Hunter muttered, "This is green paint, right?" Archer told him that it was, so he snapped the bottle open and dipped his brush in. "These are going to be bushes. Im going to cover them in a base color. You can add whatever details you want."
Archer watched Hunter smear the brush across the white space, swirling the bristles in circles, and then moving them in long streaks, to add depth to the green color. "I didnt think you would want me to be involved with your painting. Some artists are very possessive over their work. You dont have to ask me to be nice."
Grinning from ear to ear, Hunter suddenly lifted the brush and flicked it across the tip of his nose. "Im not a nice person, remember? I asked you to help me because I want you to feel included in every aspect of my life. Nothing would make me happier than knowing that youre covered up to your elbows in paint... as long as you wanted to do it."
Archer nodded, "Yes! Yes, I do." His cheeks colored when it dawned on him that he sounded too eager. "I mean... Im flattered that you want me to help you. I wont be as good as you are, but I-"
He stopped talking when Hunter pressed his lips to his cheek, his breath fanning over his skin and making Archer even redder, "Were going to be okay, Archer."
Archers lashes fluttered against his cheeks as Hunter stroked the hard diamonds that rested on top of his finger, "Do you promise? You wont back out this time?"
Hunter pressed his lips against Archers ear, his voice breaking, "I was an idiot for thinking I could leave you. Youre necessary." He pulled Archers hand closer to himself, draping it over his thudding heart. "Ill give you my word that well be married. Ill give you a thousand words. Ill do anything you need me to for you to feel secure that youre mine now."
A small smile twitched at Archers red mouth, "A simple nod of your head would have sufficed."
Hunter huffed out a short laugh, and he rubbed his face against Archers. With a quick nod, he whispered, "I love you."
Archer lazily kissed the corner of Hunters mouth, "Love you, you big lug." He poked Hunters side with his elbow, "Get back to painting. We have to get these finished within the hour. My pére is preparing a vegetable stew tonight."
A smirk cracked onto Hunters mouth, and he rewet his brush, "How did I ever manage to go two weeks without you or your parents?"
"I dont know. But dont ever try to do it again."
"Never." Hunter agreed, sliding an arm around Archer as he used his other to paint long brushstrokes across his white canvas.