Archer hissed when the bristles of his brush bent backwards, snagging on a tangled curl that smarted against the sharp tug. As he pulled out the brush with much effort, he frowned haplessly at the chunk of damp hair that was twisted around a few of the broken quills. Rubbing the back of his head, he snapped his narrowed gaze up to the mirror, finding his washed out reflection gaping back at him with a prickly expression. "Ouch." He grumbled, pulling the strands of hair out of his worn out brush. "My skin is from my American mom... so is my nose... so are my lips. My hair is from my Filipino dad."

"Your eyes, as well." He heard someone giggle from the doorway of his bedroom, so he twisted around in his chair, looking over his père, who was padding down the stairs. "Though well never be sure how Cooper ended up with his blue eyes from two brown eyed parents. Your dad is resentful that he doesnt have our blue eyes, Archer... but I think gold is certainly a beautiful color." Falling back in his chair with a huff, Archer crossed his arms over his chest, pouting at his image in the mirror, which gave him no pity. "Dont be so dismal, darling. Youre going on your first date. You should not let a few unruly curls stand in your way."

His père swished over to the back of his chair, moving as gracefully as a butterfly in a light wind. He laid one hand on Archers shoulder, while he reached for the brush with his other. Gently combing it through one strand at a time, he hummed, "You know, Hunter is upstairs. Just on time... very gentlemanly. You, however, are following in the Hummel-Anderson tradition of being fashionably late. Ive always made your dad wait for me to ready myself for our outings. Then you will know that if your man is patient enough to wait for you to spritz your wrists and don a piece of jewelry or two, he is worth not waiting for."

Archer helplessly smiled at the mirror, watching his père fastidiously tame his frizziest curls. "How did he look, Père? He told me he didnt have the money to take me anywhere expensive, so I figured that a shirt and a pair of jeans would be enough."

"Theyre plenty." His père assured, setting the brush aside so he could run his fingers through the last strands that were still sticking up. "He was very casual... dressed a little like you, actually. You look very pretty, sweetheart. Make sure he knows that he cannot have a relationship with you because of your looks, but that he should appreciate them. Not many men have someone as breathtaking as you on their arms. He is lucky."

Spinning in his chair toward his père, Archer happily wrapped his arms around him, burrowing his cheek into his smooth stomach, which was covered by a thin slip of fabric. "I love you, Père. I wont be gone long, I promise. Expect me home within the next hour or two." He stood, releasing his père after he pecked his soft cheek with a kiss. Shuffling away from him, he felt his père slip a thin hand through his, scurrying after him as he thumped up the stairs. He held his hand until he reached the top step, where he let it go so he could push the door open. "Hunter?"

A huge grin broke out on his face when he saw Hunter leaning against the couch, dressed in his usual black attire, a shirt and a pair of tight jeans. Crookedly smirking at the sound of Archers voice, Hunter peeled off of the back of the couch, extending one of his hands, which was closed around a bouquet of flowers, toward the two who had arrived upstairs. Archer rolled his eyes when his père made a grateful sound. He was too easily impressed, but even Archer had to admit that he did find the extra effort that Hunter had put into this touching. "Mr. Hummel-Anderson, I brought you these flowers to thank you for letting me take your son out for lunch today."

Smiling brightly, his père took the flowers and brought them to his nose, sniffing them. "Oh... these are lovely, Hunter. Ill put them in a vase right away. Thank you so much for the gift." He held out one of his arms, a movement that Hunter didnt respond to, so he took it upon himself to wrap it around his neck. Even though his père was one of the tallest in the family, he still didnt reach the middle of Hunters nose. "I think its amazing... how grateful you are to be with my son. And the way you treat him. As long as you make him happy, you are more than welcome in our home. Anyone who can make Archer smile as much as he does around you is like family to us." As his père spun away to go to the kitchen to water the flowers, he briefly turned his chin and murmured, "Please... call me Kurt. Ive never liked formalities. I think theyre far too stiff between friends." He glanced at his son, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "Have a wonderful time, my darling."

While Hunter nodded after him, Archer slunk over to his side, shaking his head as he snickered. "Flattering my père... Nice touch. But it is not him who you need to go to great lengths for. I think you should be kissing the feet of my daddy, instead."

Hunter grinned at him, placing a hand at his waist as he led him out the door, "All of your family members are important to me, Archer... but I think I favor your père. He obviously isnt where you got these violent hands of yours." Archer teasingly swatted him, embarrassed that he had brought up their first meeting, which hadnt gone over so well. Chuckling, Hunter caught one of his hands and lifted it to his lips. "Hands that I love, precious one. How did the talk with your père go?"

"Very well, actually." Archer admitted, sliding his fingers through Hunters as he lowered their hands between them. "I didnt expect any less, though. He knows what we did... and he doesnt mind. You see, my père is very whimsical. Hes romantic to a fault. My daddy..." he sighed. "My daddy is the practical one. They were raised very differently. My père had a mom just like him... silly and girlish. She was loving... and she never raised her voice. Anything he wanted, he could snap his fingers and have. My daddy was raised by parents who were just the opposite. They didnt love him at all. Ive never met them. I would know my grandma, but she died before I was even born. Im very close with my grandpa, though." Tightening his hand in Hunters when he turned onto the sidewalk that led to the poorer side of town, he murmured, "You dont have to worry about my père telling anything to my daddy. He understands what would happen if he knew. But... what about you? Have you told anyone?"

Hunter shook his head, his mouth becoming a thin line, "No... I havent. Theres no one I could tell... besides Dillon. But... I dont talk about you with Dillon. Hed turn to the wrong ear, and it would probably all get back to your dad eventually." He shrugged his shoulders, "It was your first time, anyway. I dont think I have a right to talk about that to anyone. What happened the other night was private... at least, until you say it isnt." Turning a cheeky smile down to Archer, he muttered lowly, "Youre not something I want to brag about... not because youre not something to brag about, but because Im a jealous bastard... and I cant stand the thought of other men seeing you as something desirable for them to have in their beds. Youre mine."

Tittering softly, Archer leaned closer to Hunter, bumping their shoulders, "I know that I am yours. But... thank you... for respecting that. It means a lot to me that you waited until you spoke to me about it first." Suddenly realizing that Hunter was leading him in the direction of his house, Archer tried to skid to a halt, but Hunter nudged him along, keeping him at his side. "Hunter, where is it that you are taking me? I thought we were going to lunch."

"We are." Hunter told him, "I never said where. I got up early this morning and went to the store. I bought a few things that you told me you enjoyed, and I made them. Theyre in my room right now. All of it is French... just to give you a taste of home. Its not authentic, and it wont taste the same... but I did my best."

"Hunter." Archer gazed up at him, eyes wide, "Thats so nice of you. You didnt have to go to the trouble-" When Hunter shook his head, muttering that he did, Archer lost his words for a moment. He stammered through his next sentence, "You know, youre not what I thought you were on the day that I met you. You havent changed at all... but something about you is different now."

"Is it that I love you now?" Hunter muttered, flashing him a funny smile before he turned away so he could focus on following the pathway into the woods. Archer scampered after him, clinging to his muscular hand. He took him over to the hunk of wood that covered the cellar, and he bent down and yanked at the metal handle until it sprang up. Swinging his leg into the dark hole, Hunter climbed down the steps, then held his arms up for Archer. "Careful, sweetheart. I dont want you to lose your footing."

Placing his hands on Hunters shoulders, Archer felt him grip his waist and boost him into the room, which made him shudder from the wave of heat that brushed over him. "Its not cold down here anymore." He said to the darkness, staying still as Hunter left his side to find some lighting. "And it smells... very good." Blinking when a lantern flickered on, Archer looked around the room, his eyes widening when he realized that the dust and dirt had been swept away, and the mildew that had splattered the walls was wiped off. It wasnt any more colorful, but more paintings had been hung up, each of them adding shapes and images to the plain room. He glanced down at what he realized was making the humming noise, a small box that was radiating heat. Plates of food sat on a table just in front of it, where the heat was blowing. "Did you... clean?"

Hunter nodded, turning around to do a sweep of the room as he scraped another match over the edge of the box. "I figured... youd be here with me a lot, so you would want a comfortable place to stay. Please... feel free to add whatever touches you like. I bought a few extra pillows and blankets... and the heater... and more lanterns. Sit down. Ill bring the food over after I finish lighting these lanterns."

Delighted by these small steps Hunter was taking to make him feel more relaxed, Archer slid his feet across the smooth floor. He lowered onto the edge of the bed, sinking into three inches of soft padding. "This is all very kind of you, Hunter." He watched his taut arms flex as he turned a knob on the lantern, making a tiny flame blast from the wick. Bringing his feet up onto the mattress after he kicked his shoes off, Archer wrapped his arms around his knees. The next lantern that was set onto the dresser shed so much light that the entire room was illuminated, and Archer could even see his shadow lounging across the bed. Turning his head when Hunter crossed the room to gather the plates of food, he ruffled a brow at the sight of two teddy bears that were plopped onto the pillow. Both of them were very rumpled, with stuffing that had hardened and fur that had become matted and patchy.

Archer smiled, reaching down for the one on the left, which had a white splotch on its nose. He picked it up as if it was one of the fragile paintings that were hung on the walls, and he held it to his chest, smoothing a soft hand over its plump cheek. "I used to have a teddy bear like this." He murmured, giving it a tender squeeze to his chest before he set it back down. "I took him everywhere with me... through rain or shine. He saw more cycles through the washer than my clothes did."

Grinning, Hunter carried a plate of food to Archer, who he kissed before handing it over to him. Archer sighed at the way he had warmly rubbed his mouth. "No one has ever seen my teddy bears before. I forgot that I had left them out. You dont think its strange that a grown man still sleeps with his teddy bears?"

Archer quickly shook his head, placing his hand on the other teddy bear, whose stomach sank in under the pressure. "Oh, no... no. I dont think of you as any less of a man because you... because of this. I grew up with my parents telling me that teddy bears could hold me when no one else would. Sometimes... I would become very scared as a child. I had irrational fears. Storms made me pull the covers over my head, and loneliness made me cry. My parents would always be there to scoop me up and rock me in their arms... but until they got there... all I could do was hide my face in my teddy bear." He shrugged a shoulder, pulling his hand away when Hunter reached down for the bear beside of it, the one with the splotch. Archer watched him hug it to his chest, his chin lowering until his lips were nearly pressed to its head. "If... If I still had my teddy around, I would hold onto him every night. But... I cant do that... because hes gone."

Furrowing his brows, Hunter nodded, but Archer could tell that it wasnt in agreement to anything he had just said. "Archer... this teddy bear is my favorite. Ive had him since before I can remember. The other one... its done me good over these years, but not like this one." He tilted his head toward the bear that was still propped up on the pillow. "Karofsky gave me that teddy bear when I was very young... It was one of the few days that he was feeling decent enough to do something nice for someone else. But this teddy bear... Hes seen me through my entire life. There hasnt been a day that he hasnt been there for me... that I couldnt cry into his shoulder." He lowered the bear to his lap, still fiddling with a hole that had been chewed through the ear. "I think... this teddy bear belongs to someone else, though. Its not mine. I took it from a little boy who needed it even more than I did."

Wondering what Hunter meant by his uncertainty of whether the bear was his or not, Archer scooped it into his hands when he held it out to him. He cradled it against his chest, breathing in the scent of cigarettes that was burnt into its fur. "Do you know who the boy was?" He murmured, stroking a chunk of hair that was sticking up from its head. "Im sure he would understand why you took it... You needed it to keep the nightmares away. I think that everyone needs a teddy bear."

Hunter shook his head, picking up a plate of riz au lait and stirring the mushy grains around with the tip of his fork. "I dont remember the boy. But I feel selfish... Ive always had two teddy bears. He never had one. All I want is to see him one more time... to tell him that Im sorry... and to return it to him." He swallowed a forkful of the food before he said anything else. "I want you to do something for me. Please, sweetheart... take my bear home. Hold him at night and think of me when you do."

"Are you sure you wont miss him?" Archer placed the bear in his lap, looking down at it with a pair of worried eyes.

"No." Hunter, setting the plate down and leaning back on his palms, muttered. "Not when I know that hes safe with you." Clearing his throat, he turned his face to the side, and then he choked out, "Eat, my love. Im sorry, Ive been keeping your mouth busy with conversation."

Nodding, Archer grabbed a bowl that was filled to the brim with a cranberry tart, and he stuffed his mouth with a bite so warm and gooey that it melted over his tongue. "Mm... this is delicious, Hunter. Knowing how to cook such good food is a talent that few people have. My pére would love to make a meal with you. Hes tried to teach me many times... but Im still not very good."

Hunters lips twitched, "I know." He stabbed a juicy cranberry from the top of Archers dish, and he stuck it between his teeth. "Tell your pére that Id be happy to make your family dinner... but that they ought to be okay with frozen meals."

Archer crinkled a brow, "What do you mean?"

He flicked his yellow eyes away, "I mean that... I dont like using stoves. Everything I make is cold. The only reason this food is hot is because I had it next to the heater." He shrugged a shoulder at the arrangements of plates, bowls, and cups set next to them. "See? Nothing is cooked."

Frowning, Archer considered the fact that he hadnt noticed before. "Do you... not know how to use a stove-?"

"I know what they do." Hunters voice was suddenly curt, as if he was trying to rush through these few sentences so they could quickly get off the topic. "Its been a long time since Ive even looked at one."

Archers face softened as he poked at a creamy filling for a pastry, "Cooked or no... I think this food is very tasty. You have a gift to make anything so mouthwatering."

Hunters nostrils flared as he sucked his lips in, only peeling them apart a few centimeters to say something so quietly that Archer didnt hear him. But he thought he made out a word or two about needing to survive. Bringing the bear closer to himself, Archer uncomfortably shifted his weight. The things he didnt understand about Hunter still scared him. As if he sensed that something had gone wrong, Hunter snapped his head back over to him, his face relaxing as he realized what he had done. "Thank you. Ive just... never made food for anyone else. At least, not like this. I stopped thinking about the taste of things a long time ago."

Giving him a hint of a smile, Archer finished off his tart, sucking up every morsel. "Its okay, Hunter." He put the plate back on the table, and then he scooted closer to Hunter, making a satisfied sound. "I think Ive said some of the same things about dancing." Blinking up at Hunters face, which was turned toward him, he slowly lowered his head to his chest. "Dancing was one of the greatest things to me when I was young. I thought I loved it so much that I wanted to make a career out of it. When I told my parents, they turned it into lessons... pointing my toes and keeping my legs straight. I seem to lose all feeling for it when it becomes something Im expected to do. But when Im by myself... and I can leap around without a care that my back is arched or my chin is down... its perfect again. Im sorry... if what I was saying frustrated you."

"No, honey..." Hunter wound his arms around Archers waist, stroking circles around his pointy hips. "I shouldnt have brought it up. It upsets me every time I do." When Archer tilted his chin up so he could see the hard line of Hunters trembling jaw, Hunter spoke lowly again. "I dont want to talk about this with you. Not right now, at least."

Archer shut his eyes, feeling Hunters hands slide over his chest and up his neck, searching for his curls, which he knotted around his fingers. "Hunter?" He whispered, cocking his head at a different angle so Hunter could comb his hand through his hair. "Have you ever been close enough to someone that you told them... whatever it is you cant tell me?"

Hunters arms became so tense that they restricted Archers breathing, making him suck in sharply. He immediately released him, quickly shoving him off of his lap as he slammed himself into the rails at the other end of the bed. "I-Im sorry. I cant-" He threw a hand up to his mouth, and Archer noticed the way his fingers quivered. "I cant talk about this with you! If I were going to tell someone, itd be you, Archer! I love you, okay? I want to let you in! But youd get hurt... just like you did right now-!"

"Hunter, that was an accident!" Archer pleaded, boosting himself up as he tried to get closer to Hunter, who thrust off of the bed and crossed the room so speedily that he looked like a caged animal, searching desperately for escape. "What is it? Whats wrong?" His mouth fell open when Hunter wildly shook his head, a noisy sob bellowing from his swollen lips. "Hunter, please! Talk to me! I cant stand to see you like this!"

Hunter suddenly sank to his knees, curling in on himself as he violently shuddered, grasping at anything he could get his hands on and wrenching at it, as if he was trying to throw the weight of the world away. Wiping at a hot tear that snagged on his bottom row of lashes, Archer carefully padded over to the weeping man, but Hunter flung a hand out, stopping him. "Dont." His voice broke, becoming two octaves through that one word. Archer paused, but kept his hands outstretched. He wanted to touch Hunter. "Please... dont. I cant-"

Archer wondered if hed had anyone there to hold him before, besides his stuffed toys, which Archer knew could never reciprocate the tears or the grasping hands or the encasing arms. "Hunter..." Archer begged, his high pitched voice wavering from nerves. "Hunter... dont ask me not to hold you in my arms and let you cry into my shoulder. You cant do that to me. I l-love you... so much. Please... let me come closer-"

Hunter kept his hand raised, but he stretched out one finger, pointing at something behind Archer. "The journal... My journal. Pick it up. Read something to me. Any page. It doesnt matter which."

Woodenly turning away from the boy who was heaving into the floor, Archer looked down at the lanterns, which had dimmed as their fuel drained out. He picked up a small journal, bound only by tape and pieces of the cover. Nearly dropping it, he flipped to a page near the middle, seeing tiny words sprawled across the yellowed paper. They were dug in so deeply that splotches of ink dripped from the edges of most of them. Swallowing thickly, Archer touched the first word, trying to understand it from the feel of the letters beneath his fingers, the curves and angles of them. It was so difficult to read that he had to squint his already blurry eyes. Hiccupping, Archer read quietly, "He did what he had done the d-day before, and the day before, and the day before. He l-laid me across the bed. The s-springs pressed into my bare stomach. He r-raised his..." He paused, trying to figure out the next word, which was fuzzy because of the dried splotch of water that had plopped onto it. "He raised his hand and h-hit me again and again-"

He immediately stopped, flinging the journal aside as if it had burned him. Snapping his eyes up to Hunter, who had worn himself out and had draped his body across the cold floor, Archer opened his mouth to say something, but Hunters gruff voice cut him off. "I cant see the way that youre looking at me right now-"

"Shut up!" Archer screamed, throwing his fists into the air. He wanted to hit something. "How could you make me read that? Why would you write any of that down? Why do you want to keep those memories-?"

"Theyre the only ones that I have!" Hunter yelled into the floor, pushing himself up enough that Archer could see his face, which was powdered with gray dust that had clumped around the wet streaks on his cheeks. "You probably remember your dad pushing you on a swing! I dont! All I remember is my dad beating me... bringing blood to my skin! I remember the smell of vomit... and that awful beer that he drank. Even when it wasnt in the house, it seemed to have seeped into the walls. I had to have something of my childhood, Archer. I couldnt black it all out. My vision was already gone. I had to have words and paintings. Things that I could touch and still understand. I know that I have these scars on my body because Im able to feel them."

Archer stared blankly at Hunter, nothing coming together in his racing mind. Shaking his head, he backed away from Hunter when he started to stand. Tears rolled down his pale cheeks. He hit the dresser, making one of the lanterns tip over and crash to the wood, instantly flickering out. Since the other one had been doused a while ago, they were submerged in blackness. Archer stiffened, grabbing onto the dresser behind him. "Hunter?" He cried, jerking his head around to the sound of scuffling across the floor. "Hunter!"

Archer jumped when a pair of hands touched his face, calloused thumbs rubbing his stiff jaw. "Its okay... Im right here." Hunter whispered, bringing Archers shaking body against his. Archer whimpered softly, collapsing into Hunters strong chest, which supported him like a wall. "Shh... I didnt mean for it to happen like this. Im so sorry I put you through this-"

Archer grabbed fistfuls of Hunters shirt, feeling him stretch away so he could toy with something on the dresser. "Please dont let go." Hunter hushed him again, busying his hand with what sounded like a lighter, while the one still on Archer lightly patted his back. "Is this what you see, Hunter?"

"No." Hunter said lowly, clearing his throat. Suddenly, Archer smelled the smoke of a fire, and then a lantern buzzed alive once more. Archer gasped with relief. "Im not completely blind. I can make out shadowy forms... some movements, if theyre big enough. I can see the outline of your face right now, pretty."

Moaning, Archer took Hunters muscular hands, pressing them into his damp cheeks. "I didnt know-"

"You didnt have to." Hunter said, pressing a kiss between his eyes. "I never told you. I never let on. Ive become good at memorizing... how long streets are, where to turn, where I put things down. Its how Ive survived. That and exceptional hearing. The loudest thing in the room right now is your beating heart, my precious one."

Archer squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face in Hunters shirt, which he ruined with his slimy face. "How did you become this way?"

"Karofsky threw me into an oven when I was young." He admitted, no longer referring to the man as his dad. There was now a feeling of distance in his words. "The smoke hit my eyes. It damaged my corneas. Ive been this way ever since."

Archer wildly shook his head, "There has to be a surgery. There has to be something-"

"Darling, be quiet." Hunter chided, placing one of his fingers on Archers puffy lips. "Ive looked. There are surgeries... but none of them can fix my vision. They cost more money than Ive had my hands on for my entire life... and nothing is guaranteed to work."

Hunter swiped his fingers under Archers dripping eyes. Sniffling, Archer peeped, "You told me that your dad did terrible things to you... but never to what extent. You never told me that you were blind. Hunter, I never knew these things. I cant handle the fact that a man has nearly killed you... or that he could at any moment. I dont care how good your damned hearing is. He could sneak up on you... and you could be gone-"

"He doesnt know." Hunter tried to reassure, but to no feat. "Lovely, he wouldnt know to use this against me-"

When Archers knees weakened, Hunter wrapped an arm around him, half dragging him over to the bed. "I want you away from this place." He grumbled, letting Hunter close his large hands around Archers. His voice thickened when he spoke again, "Maybe we could elope. We could get away-"

"Now youre talking crazy." Hunter covered Archers mouth with his hand. "Archer, I know you dont like dancing because you have to... but you still love the people who make you do it. Dont take your family for granted, my darling. I would give anything to have parents half as good as yours. I dont want you to ever talk like that again." He helplessly rolled a shoulder, as if he knew that Archer was making a face at him. "Ive stayed alive for sixteen years. I can do it for sixteen more-"

"But you could be happier-" Archer blurted.

Hunter pushed a single brow up to his hairline, which had turned dark brown. "Youre right, kitten. I could be. I dont want to waste any more time just living. The only reason Im still here is because I was searching for that boy, the one whose teddy bear I took. Youre not him... but I was searching for you, Archer." Hunter reached up for Archers face, which he pressed into his palm, and he tucked a loose, damp curl behind his ear. "I love you... with whatever is left of my heart. Im not going to elope with you. I refuse to take you away from your parents, as much as your dad wants to take you away from me." He carelessly shrugged, "Not to say that I could blame him-"

"What if I promised you that I would still see my parents?"

"Dont bargain for my heart-"

"Im not bargaining for your heart." Archer said quickly. "I already have that. Im bargaining for you... to be my husband-"

Hunters eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Archer, youre sixteen years old. And I dont know how old I am, but I think Im as young as you are. You know nothing about me. I wouldnt make a good husband-"

"Youre good to me!" Archer cried, his echoing voice the only response he got. "I was forced to grow up too quickly, Hunter. Since I was young, its been all about my future! A future that I dont want! Now that my parents arent around me as much, Im ready to make my own decisions." He took a deep, steadying breath, "I want you to be a part of my decisions. I have no say in the way I dance... but I can say something about the man I want to be with."

Hunter shook his head once more, huffing deeply, "Archer... I almost cant believe what Im hearing. I know you mean well... but I cant just run off with you, even if you swore to see your parents. Honey, its not as easy as it sounds. Wed have it worse off than I do here. At least I have a cellar to live in. If I left this place, nothing but the streets would have me. I know you dont understand that... Youve been provided for by a generous family. I have no money to my name. Id need to be able to provide for you before I took you anywhere. You need to be educated. I cant take you away from whats best for you." He smeared a stray tear across his cheek. "Kitten, when... when, or if, I feel that the time is right, I will exchange vows with you. For now, I want you to stop trying to protect me... and just take care of yourself. Think about all of the ways that you love to dance. I can handle Karofsky. When I was a small child, I couldnt. He easily overpowered me. Now Im a grown man... and hes just a drunk."

Archer blinked his leaky eyes, making a few tears pop out of them. Realizing he was panting too heavily to make coherent words, Hunter said gently, "Archer... sweetheart, Im not upset with you. I know what youre trying to do, and I love you all the more for it. But dont marry me because of something my dad is doing. Marry me because you want to... when youre ready to. I think you know, somewhere in your mind, that neither of us is ready yet. I think we need to go on a lot more dates... get to know each other better than we know ourselves. But... thats my fault, my little one... that you dont know me better than you do. Ive hid a lot from you, with no reason other than the fact that I was scared you wouldnt love me anymore."

"I cant stop loving you." Archer squeaked, drawing a soft sound from Hunter as he scooted across the bed. He bundled Archer in his arms, drawing him across his lap, where he tucked himself into his warm body. "I do want to marry you because of you... but I want to get you away from here. And I want my parents to let me dance freely-!"

"Shh..." Hunter rocked Archer back and forth, massaging his back with the heel of his hand, "Its okay, baby. Dont make yourself worked up. I promise you that I will be fine. And I dont make promises if I know that I cant keep them." Archer hiccupped, so Hunter reached out for a glass of water and brought it back to him, listening to Archer drink thirstily. "Your parents probably have no idea that theyre upsetting you, honey. I know that they love you. Its why your dad is so angry with me. He wants to keep you out of harms way. Have you ever told them why you dance?"

Archer shook his head, "My parents are so successful, though. And my pére took lessons to be as good as he was. Im not sure that Ill be good enough for Broadway if I stop taking them... but theyre so restrictive! And thats what I thought wouldnt happen if I danced."

Hunter rested his chin on top of Archers head, "And you feel like you have to be free in order to take advantage of the ability that the little boy you lost never had." He said as more of a statement, and Archer hummed his agreement softly. Nudging a kiss into Archers frizzy curls, Hunter whispered, "You make me question myself... and our relationship, but I know now that I do love you, and that you love me back." Suddenly, Hunter leaned away from him, and he held out his hand, which Archer gazed at with a pair of glassy eyes. When he realized that Archer didnt comprehend what he wanted, he slid his hand under his, lifting it to his lips, where he kissed each knuckle. Then he lowered it to his chest, and Archer coiled his fingers around the fabric of his shirt. "Archer... would you give me the honor of being your boyfriend? My sweet, little kitten."

Archer rumpled his face, slightly confused by what Hunter had said, before a huge smile broke out on his lips. "Yes! Of course!" Flinging himself into Hunters arms, Archer covered his mouth with his own, feeling Hunters lips flip up under it. "I would love to be your boyfriend." Laughing into the kiss, Archer pulled away, and then closed his eyes when Hunter leaned in for another, this one much slower and warmer. Clutching Hunters face in his hands, Archer tilted his head to deepen the kiss, but the corners of their mouths still didnt touch because both of them were smiling.