Chapter Text
Knock. Knock knock. Knock! Knock knock! KNOCK! "I'm coming!" Quill roared from downstairs.
Matteusz felt Charlie shift on the bed. "Are you awake?" The Pole asked.
"Yeah." Charlie said. Matteusz turned over to face him. "Who'd you think is at the door?"
They heard Quill raising her voice downstairs. The two sat up. Matteusz kissed Charlie on the forehead. "I'll go stop her from killing some poor salesman." He padded down the stairs barefoot and shirtless. He fixed the chain around his neck and turned the corner.
"Quill, don't-" Matteusz stopped. Quill stood in the doorway, looking short without her usual heels on. Her tiny form couldn't hide the man in the door frame. A man who was all too familiar. Matteusz crossed his arms.
"Matt! My son! How are you?" The man asked.
Matteusz walked up behind Quill, so he was over her shoulder. "Still gay. Still dating Charlie." They heard footsteps on the stairs. Soon, also barefoot and bare-chested, Charlie walked over. Quill stood aside so the pair could face Mr. Andrzejewski side by side. Matteusz slid his arm around Charlie's shoulders, and Charlie put his arm around Matteusz' waist.
"Oh. Still denying the truth, I see. Well, if you ever do decide to come to your senses, you know where we live. Or rather, where your real family lives. I thought you'd be smarter. Well, goodbye Matteusz. For good, if you continue to date this bitch."
Matteusz froze, and he felt Charlie tense under his arm. Matteusz tried to move but he couldn't. It's his father, how can he react? Suddenly, there was a loud smacking sound and a flash of black and light yellow. Charlie released Matteusz and held back Quill before she could do worse. He looked hurt.
Trying to keep his voice calm and steady, Matteusz said, "Listen. I don't know who you are. But you cannot show up on my doorstep and insult the members of my family. This is my home, and if I see you again, I will request a restraining order. Do not stalk me or attempt to contact me again. Now, if you do not apologize to my wonderful boyfriend for using that type of language to insult his sexuality, I will make a citizen's arrest and make sure you do time for a hate crime." The faces Mr. Andrzejewski made throughout Matteusz' speech were mainly of shock, but there were a few of pure fear. When it was over, the group was so quiet you could've heard a pin drop.
"You were never this brave when I knew you." Mr. Andrzejewski said quietly. "I guess I should thank you, Charlie. You've made my son more of a man than I ever thought he could be. I don't approve of this, but I can see you don't need my approval. Goodbye, Matteusz. Not for ever, but for now." He turned around and started walking.
"You didn't apologize," Matteusz called out.
"I shouldn't have to. It's my opinion." His father called back. Before Matteusz could respond, Charlie shut the door.
Matteusz stood in shock. Quill nodded her head, "Damn, Polish boy. You have quite the temper. I'm proud to have fought alongside you." Matteusz turned around and started walking up the stairs. Charlie moved to follow, but Quill grabbed his arm. "I would give him a minute." The two blondes looked at each other. "I tried to keep him out. I did, Charlie." Quill explained.
Charlie nodded and waited, and after a minute or two, he started walking up the stairs. When he reached the second floor, he saw a figure curled up on the bed, sobbing. He walked over and sat down on the bed. Without saying a word, he pulled Matteusz into his lap. It must've looked so comical, a man as big as Matteusz Andrzejewski, half naked, curled into a ball, and sobbing in Charlie's lap.
Charlie rubbed his back and kissed the top of his head. "Everything's going to be alright." He said. "I'm certain of it." Charlie felt Matteusz' lips curl into a smile, though the tears didn't stop. They just stayed there for a while, one sobbing in the fetal position on the other's lap, and the other just sitting there with his arms around his boyfriend.
An hour later, Matteusz' tears had run dry. He slowly started to unfurl, and Charlie let him stretch on the bed. "Let's get you cleaned up," Charlie said to him.
"I don't want to shower," Matteusz said, sounding slightly childish.
"Well then, let's take a bath." He went and filled up the tub with warm water. He walked back over to the bed and helped Matteusz get ready before getting into the tub. Letting him sink into the water, Matteusz' eyes shut and his breathing slowed. He was asleep and at peace. Charlie kissed his forehead and whispered, "I love you." Charlie spent the next hour sitting, cross-legged, beside the tub, standing guard over his boyfriend.