Archive of Our Own

The last three weeks have been spent in complete bliss.

After their first kiss, any barriers broke down between them, and Ken cannot honestly remember the last time he felt this strongly about another person.  Any lingering doubts he had about Stell were immediately cleared up when on Monday - the day after they returned from their Tagaytay trip - Stell invited him for coffee and they talked about what the kiss meant for them.

"We can't tell anyone," Stell said.  "Not yet, at least.  I know it's not ideal, but you work directly for me."

"I don't mind," Ken replied, holding his hand.  "I understand.  I kinda want to keep this to ourselves for now, figure things out.  I'll be honest, it's been awhile for me, too.  I don't think I've ever been in a relationship or even dated since my wife passed.  I've spent the last six years just finding my footing, especially since I have Kuro to think about."

At the mention of Kuro, Stell broke out into a grin.  "And I can say you've been doing a great job.  Kuro comes first in your life, and it's amazing to see how much you love him."

"He's my whole world," Ken admitted softly.  "It's just been the two of us for so long.  His godparents help a lot - my best friends - so I don't really know how to broach the topic of me dating again."

"We'll figure it out," Stell told him.  "Let's see where the next few days take us first."

Days then turned into weeks, and before Ken knew it, he'd been dating Stell Ajero for three whole weeks.  It wasn't the most ideal situation.  Most of their dates happened long after office hours, far away enough that they wouldn't bump into anybody they know.  They didn't often get lunch either, especially with Stell having working lunches most of the time due to his workload.  They'd be cordial at most in the office, and Ken was pretty proud of himself for not sweeping Stell into a kiss like he wanted to do, but the little smirk on his boyfriend's face when he turned away told Ken he wasn't as smooth as he had hoped.

The first time they spent the night together was purely accidental, though, but neither of them were surprised when it finally happened. 

They had gone out for dinner, drinks were flowing between them, and they had kept shooting heated looks at each other the entire night.  It was probably when they started feeding each other bites of each other's dessert that things started to really spark, and before they knew it, they were making out in the GrabCar, furiously pawing at each other as they were driven to Stell's condo.  

Ken was glad he had the sense to at least text Josh and Justin, who were watching Kuro that night, and begged them to keep him until morning.  He barely got an affirmative response before he tossed his phone to the side and tackled Stell to the bed all while removing his shirt in one smooth motion.  

And that's where he is now, in the luxurious bed of his boyfriend who was pressed up against his back, strong arms holding him close.  Ken blinked through the haze of a slight hangover, but he grinned nonetheless when he realized where he was and who he was with. 

Shifting, he rolled around in Stell's arms and was greeted with the lovely sight of his boyfriend, still fast asleep, wavy hair tousled and free of product.  His mouth was slack, face pressed against the pillows, and Ken spotted the dark bruise blooming on the juncture of his shoulder that was shaped like his mouth.

He felt oddly pleased with himself for that.

"You're thinking too loud," Stell sleepily murmured, and Ken watched as those beautiful brown eyes opened and blinked at him. "What's on your mind?"

"Just happy," he said, and Stell smiles before leaning in and slotting their lips together.  Ken kissed back with as much fervor, glad that it's a weekend and he doesn't have to be in a rush.  "Last night," kiss. "Was incredibly," kiss.  "Amazing." Kiss.

Stell grinned, giggling and kissing back just as fervently, humming in pleasure as Ken shifted and slung a leg over him, pressing their chests together.  

"What time do you have to get Kuro?" Stell asked, and Ken leaned back to glance at the clock.

"Not for another two hours," he replied upon seeing 7:02 a.m. on the clock.  

Stell's smile grew wider and he rolled his hips up, causing Ken's breath to stutter at the friction.

"You're a menace," Ken growled, and Stell only beamed in response as he pulled Ken down for another kiss that quickly turned heated.

They didn’t get out of bed for at least another hour, not that Ken was complaining in the slightest.  

"Do you think we should tell Kuro soon?" Ken asked as Stell drove them to Josh and Justin's house to pick up Kuro.  

"Do you want to?" Stell asked as he flicked the turn signal.  "If you're not ready, I understand."

Ken sighed, thinking it over.  He did want Kuro to know, but there were so many things to consider.  Would Kuro be okay with him dating?  His son might be completely enamored with Stell, always asking about him and cheering whenever they all get to hang out, but would Kuro understand the significance of Stell being in their lives, now that he and Ken are more than friends?

"I don't want to hide it from him," Ken said slowly, and Stell reached over to intertwine their hands.  "But I just...I just want time to figure out what to tell him."

"If you want me to be there when you tell him, just say the word."

And fuck, Ken's heart does a somersault in his chest at those words.  At the stoplight, he takes the opportunity to pull Stell into a soft kiss.  Stell smiles against his lips, and Ken reluctantly pulls back because well, Stell's driving, and he’d rather not be the reason they get into an accident.

"We'll figure it out," Stell assures him.  He turns his eyes back to the road in front of them, but his hand has not left Ken's thigh.  "I intend to make us last."

Ken grins, falling more and more with every second.

For some reason, the thought of telling Kuro about him dating again made Ken feel a little nauseous.

And it wasn’t because he was ashamed of Stell.  No, if given the chance, he’d proudly yell it from the top of the tallest building in Makati that he is in a relationship with an amazing man.  

Ken deeply valued his son’s views and opinions on matters.  It’s been mostly him and Kuro - them against the world - for the longest time.  It wasn’t as easy to introduce a new person into their lives no matter how simple the movies and the teleseryes made it seem.  Sure Ken had the help of his best friends - Kuro’s godparents - but they had their own lives and their own families.  Ken wasn’t about to ask them to drop everything for him, not when he could handle it.

But he was falling in love with Stell, and if it turns out that Kuro wasn’t all for the relationship, he had no idea what he'd do.  He was glad that Kuro took somewhat of a shine to Stell, and he sometimes wouldn’t shut up about the amazing adventures Stell brought them on (the overnight trip to Tagaytay comes to mind every single time).  

He realizes he might be worried about nothing at all, but he loves his son so much, and now there was someone else that was filling in the large gaping hole in his heart that never quite healed right in the past six years.  Would Kuro think that Stell was taking the place of his mom?  It was a reasonable expectation, and Ken resolved to assure Kuro that Stell would not be replacing his mom because well, no one ever could.  Stell was just going to be more involved in their lives, a part of their little family hopefully, and Ken could only hope Kuro would understand.  

They decide to tell Kuro a week later, on a Saturday.  Stell and Ken’s schedules finally aligned, and they planned to spend the entire day with Kuro, starting with a morning stroll by the seaside.  Kuro laughed as Stell lifted him up on the seawall, and Ken’s heart burst at the sight of his boyfriend carefully supporting his son as they walked together down the path.  And if he took an embarrassing number of pictures, well, that was his business.

Lunch was at a nice seafood restaurant, and that was an adventure in and of itself.  Kuro refused to eat anything that wasn’t deep fried, and he ended up with a variation of fish and chips, but Ken did somehow to get him to eat some salad as well.  At least he wasn’t completely failing in getting his son to eat something healthy.  

Towards the evening, Stell surprised them with tickets to the fair.  They all piled into one of the cabins of the Ferris Wheel, and Kuro excitedly pointed out at the twinkling lights just a little over the horizon, across the dark expanse of the sea, and Stell excitedly pointed out what cities those lights could be.  Kuro listened with rapt attention, all but climbing into Stell's lap as he did so.  Ken kept a firm grip on Stell's hand the entire time, and he couldn't help but just sit back and look fondly at his boys.  

His boys.  The mere thought brought a bloom of warmth that spread across his chest.  

With nighttime arriving, they settled into to have a light dinner, and they finally winded down at a coffee shop where Kuro dug into a slice of chocolate cake with gusto.  Here, in this moment, where all was soft and quiet and relaxed, Ken figured it was time to tell him.

“You really waited until he was hopped up on sugar, didn’t you?” Stell asked teasingly when Ken murmured to him his plan.  

“Figured it’d make it easier to break it to him,” Ken replied with a huff.  He took a deep breath and faced his son and only hoped he didn’t look like he was facing a firing squad.  It was only Stell’s hand on his thigh that calmed him down.

“Kuro, buddy, did you enjoy yourself today?” He asked, grabbing his son’s attention, and Kuro smiled widely.

“It’s been the bestest best day, tatay!” Kuro replied excitedly, and there were smears of chocolate all over his face.  

“I’m glad you did, baby,” Ken said.  “Listen, buddy, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.  It’s nothing bad, but I wanted to be sure first before I told you anything.”

Kuro tilted his head curiously.

“Well,” Ken began, before he paused and pulled himself into the chair beside Kuro.  Kuro turned to look at him, eyes wide, and he seemed to be patiently waiting for whatever Ken had to say.  How was it more difficult to talk to his son now about him dating?  It had been easier to talk to him about other more serious matters.  

He caught Stell’s gaze from across the table, and it was the soft reassurance in his eyes that allowed Kent o take a deep breath and turn to his son.

“Kuro, you know how it’s just always been you and me since you were a baby?”

Kuro nods, and Ken places a hand on his shoulder.

“I just want you to know first that it will always be you and me.  You’re my baby boy, and I love you so much.  Whatever life may throw at us, we’ll always stick together,” Ken began, forcing himself to look into his son’s eyes.  “But, sometimes, as an adult, life gets a little lonely sometimes.”

Kuro frowns at that.  “Are you lonely, tatay?”

“I used to be,” Ken replied honestly.  “But I’m never lonely when I have you,” he adds, gently poking Kuro’s side, and Kuro giggles loudly in the coffee shop.  “I know it’s always been you and me against the world, but, what do you say to having someone else join us in this journey of our lives?”

“Who?” Kuro asked, blinking up at him.  

“That’d be me,” Stell piped up, and Kuro’s head whipped around to face him.  Ken’s heart stopped for only the briefest moments as his son regarded Stell with a shocked expression on his face.

But then, Kuro’s shock gave way to a big smile, and Ken could feel his heart start beating again.

“Really, Mr. Stell?” Kuro asked, his voice tinged with hope, and he looked to be vibrating with excitement.  

And it hit him - Ken never really had anything to worry about.  From their past interactions, Kuro obviously loved having Stell around, and it was clear with the way he practically hung on to Stell's every word.  Stell was really good to them, and Ken wonders what he did in a past life to deserve such a good man in his life now.  

“Really,” Ken replied for them both, and Kuro turned back to him with a huge grin on his face.  “Kuro, Stell and I...we’re actually dating.  We wanted you to know because you’re such an important part of our lives, and we wanted to be sure that you’d be okay with this.”

“And as long as you both will have me, I’ll stay,” Stell said, his voice firm and sure, leaving absolutely no room for any argument.  

Kuro gave an excited yelp as he climbed off his chair and rounded the table to jump at Stell whose arms were already open, catching the excited six-year old that threw himself at him.  

“Are you gonna get married?” He asked them loudly, and Ken froze.

Thankfully, Stell swooped in as he adjusted his hold on Kuro.  “It’s still too early to say, buddy.  But, I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

Stell looked up at Ken as he said that, and Ken relaxed at the smile that was directed his way.  They’ve only been dating for close to two months now, just getting their bearings in a new and frankly very fragile relationship, so talk of marriage wasn’t really one of the things they ever brought up.  Clearly, based on Stell’s reply, it was something he wouldn’t be against, but Ken figures they really should talk about it first before they  make any huge decisions like that.

“We’re still getting to know each other,” Ken said as he went over to sit beside them.  “And I promise you, Kuro, nothing really has to change much.  Stell will just be with us a lot more, and I’m sure that’s something that you’d like?”

Kuro nods.  “I like Mr. Stell,” he proudly announces.

Ken grins.  “Looks like we have something in common, because I like Mr. Stell too.”

And with that,  he looked up at Stell and now that he wasn’t hiding, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips before he pulled away and pressed a kiss to the crown of Kuro’s head who beamed at them brightly.

For the first time in a long time, Ken could feel life just starting to look up.

Fin