Archive of Our Own

High school was a place of labels and expectations, where students were often confined to the boxes society had assigned them.

Adam was never the best in understanding them. Social cues and guidelines were not as obvious or crystal clear for him. When his father explained the stereotypes around cheerleading, he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Why would they care? I will be the one wearing the skirt, not them." He answered logically to his dad's worries as the man signed the papers.

"Well, at least you got in a club I guess... Adam, maybe this will help you make friends, but remember that kids can be mean to those who are different" His dad said, giving back the forms with a pat on the back.

Adam nodded, still not sure of why that would matter. There were a lot of cheerleaders like him, maybe he was the only boy, but that did not change anything.

In the morning, he got ready for school. Brushing his hair and teeth the same exact way he did every day, today he would change his routine, sending his application to the cheerleading club meant he would have to start going to practices every afternoon instead of walking straight home, and it would mean to stay for all the hockey games, even if he didn't find the sport interesting at all.

Adam walked to the bus stop and soon enough he was at school, handing in the paper to the nice administration lady, who didn't comment on his sports choice, smiling and sending Adam back to class.

After half an hour passed, he received a call from the loudspeaker. The rector wanted to speak with him.

That was strange, but Adam couldn't refuse, so he approached the office. Upon entering he noticed the physical education teacher standing while looking down, holding his application, and a worried look on the rector sitting down.

“Hello. Did I miss any data on my application?” Adam asked, he was sure he didn't miss anything, he had checked it a few times before handling it in.

“No, Raki… you joined the cheerleading club, it's that right? Is that what you wanted?” The teacher was the first one to talk, but he couldn't even answer, being interrupted by a boy entering –barging– in the office. A strong scent of cigarettes followed him. Adam didn't know the guy, he looked taller, maybe a few grades older. He looked messy, and a little troubled. From his uniform, Adam guessed he was part of the hockey team. He couldn't imagine cheering for him.

———

Ice rink, his home. How boring it was.

Nigel found himself falling out of love with it and it scared him.

He played hockey his whole life. He ignored his grades and interactions with other people in order to become the best player. And for what?

He has talent, Nigel knows that, everyone tells him that all the time. But they never cared enough to tell him that it wouldn't last forever.

New season just started, he did his best on training without showing others what he was going through. And it worked. At least it looked like that.

“Hey, Nigel.” He heard a voice behind him just as he was about to leave the fitting room. Nigel looked at Darko who caught up with him to leave together. “You seem off. Something happen? Did any of our pretty cheerleaders ignore your flirting?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Nigel said without much emotion. Darko was his friend, but not the kind you talk to about your regrets. He was more like the person you go to when you have no one to party or drink with, and Darko probably saw him the same way. “Did it show that much?”

“Nobody else seems to see that you are off. I just know you too well.” Darko smirked at Nigel and winked at him. “Don’t worry about these girls, they all hold their heads too high. But there is fresh meat coming to us today.”

Nigel smiled at the thought, that’s right. He hoped that with new faces and new fun. He could amuse himself, even if it meant mocking a few new students. He was a captain. Even if someone wanted to report him, nobody would do anything about it.

“Fuck Darko, do you think they'll be up for something tonight?” Nigel smiled, and his friend elbowed him, the coach was right behind them. “Bányai. No swearing” the man said, pointing to the door, and Nigel knew he had to leave.

The words made him almost groan. It was the start of the day and he was sent to the rector's office. He didn’t even bother himself to say anything to Darko and change the way he was going. It was a few minutes walk before he reached the administration and entered the room with an unsatisfied face, fuming.

“Fucking coach- Oh, hello gorgeous.” Nigel said after looking up and down at the other boy standing in the room.

“What happened to this little boy here?” He added, looking at the teacher, then to the rector, who cleared his throat.
“Well Nigel Bányai, I would rather you not snoop around into private matters. What did they send you in for this time?” Hannibal, the rector, asked Nigel, and he just shrugged his shoulders.

“Swearing in class. It's not like I killed someone, but whatever. I bet the kid here wouldn't mind letting me know what's wrong either, would you?” He directed his attention to Adam.

“I- I'm not a kid, first of all. I'm a teenager, also, I would tell you what's wrong, but I don't know. I'm not missing any data. I just sent my application for the cheerleading team.” Adam felt like he repeated that sentence too much lately, people didn't seem to comprehend what he said.

Nigel tried to hold a chuckle while looking at the boy, and then back to the rector.

“Well, you heard the teenage-kid, he wants to be a little cheerleader, let him” Nigel called him ‘kid’ again, not caring about what Adam just said. “I hope you give him a skirt too”

“That was one of the reasons why we called Adam in, this institution had never had male cheerleaders, there is no uniform that would suit him.” Hannibal said, reaching for the cabinet in his office, where he had samples of all the sports uniforms in order. “As you know, this school is very prestigious, and it works this way because we keep our traditions.”

“But there were no gender limitations in the form at all” Adam insisted, knowing that following traditions also meant following rules, and he had apparently found a loophole around them.

Nigel was looking at the boy, he wondered when the kid would change his mind. He could bet that the kiddo wasn’t doing it from his own free will. “I bet 50$ that he won't even stay in the team for the first match.”

After his words every pair of eyes landed on him – which only made him smile. Maybe this year doesn't need to be a shameful one, could even be funny with a few insults, watching as the kid gets bullied for his first high school choice.

“You won't bet on the matter at all Bányai, we still need to discuss your situation, and Adam shall be dismissed soon.” Hannibal insisted, handing Adam the uniform, a size too small for him.

“This will be the only uniform allowed if you would like to continue with this unusual insistence, at least until the beginning of the next season.” Hannibal declared, thinking the battle was over and he had won, but the boy's smile told him otherwise.

“Thank you Doctor Lecter, and thanks Nigel! I won't disappoint.” Adam said, hugging the uniform and walking away from the office.

“Something is wrong with him, I'm telling you “ Nigel said watching Adam leave the room, he can’t help himself from checking out the boy's ass. His mind conjures up a vision of a too-short skirt on the boy. If Adam was a girl, he would start begging for his attention.

Hannibal refused to answer to the boy's provocation, and directed the attention back at the issue in hand. “About your behavior… it's the sixth time you have been called in, and the year has just begun.”

But Nigel’s thoughts were too busy in something else, barely paying attention to the pretentious rector, as he always did.

___

The next few days slipped through Nigel's fingers. He had classes, training, classes, training… All the same, his only distraction was the first meeting of the cheerleaders. He was planning to watch it,but not because he wanted to see Adam. No. He only needs to know if he won the bet.

So when the day comes, he wears his best clothes and even uses cologne. He looked handsome, he always looked good but today? Everyone should kneel in front of him. With Adam at the lead.

Maybe he was obsessed. Just maybe.

Nigel takes his blue team jacket and leaves the house. He drives in silence, because who normally wants to disturb the silence on Saturday morning? Not him.

The ride took him a few minutes and when he goes into the ice rink he still has much free time. He went in the direction of the fitting room when he heard a noise coming from the girl's lockers, he turned his attention and walked straight inside.

He couldn’t complain, Adam was there.

__

Adam was anxious, more than usual. The first meeting with the cheerleaders was today, and the first meeting with the hockey team too. At least he knew someone, Nigel. The boy wasn't the nicest, but it was better than not knowing anyone at all.

He still had half an hour left before practice, but he already made his way to the school’s hockey rink.
Once there, Adam tried on the uniform the rector had given him, a small white skirt, and a red top with the number four. They were both shorter than what Adam was used to wearing. The uniform also came with pantyhoose that reach to the waist to avoid the cold of the ice biting at the skin.

As Adam was trying on the long socks, but they ripped, leaving his thighs exposed. He didn't have time to buy others, and his thoughts started to circle in panicking.

“Hello gorgeous. What a fate that we’re running into each other once more.” Nigel took Adam out of his bubble with those words. Nigel stood there watching him, it even seemed that he didn't notice or care about Adam’s panic, he devoured the boy with his eyes. He could swallow him whole. The outfit on Adam made him go dizzy.

And it made Adam panic more. No one ever looked at him like this, it was a paralyzing feeling.

“I- Hello.” Adam was startled, barely getting full sentences out. And Nigel enjoyed the sight.
The taller boy didn't wait for another word, he stepped closer to Adam, his eyes fixated on the hole in the boy's pantyhoose.

“Did you receive them like this? This fucker must be joking.” Nigel said, referring to Hannibal. He leaned a bit in Adam's direction and touched the edge of the ripped thin fabric with his fingers. “Old prick”. Nigel remembered to thank the rector if it was indeed his doing.

Adam blushed profusely, squirming away from the invasive and surprising touch. “No, they broke when I went to put them on, and now I don't have any replacements and I can't go buy new ones, because the presentation it's about to start. I can't skip the first training and-” Adam started speaking in a rushed and panicking tone, getting more and more overwhelmed, Nigel stared, confused for a moment before he reacted.

“Hey kid, are you okay? Breath for me, yeah?” Nigel asked, breathing in and out slowly and trying to make Adam mimic him, the boy followed the directions until their breathing synchronized. He didn't say anything else until Adam fully calmed down.

“Better now?” The taller boy asked and Adam just nodded, knowing he would have to explain.

“Yes, it's fine… I was just overwhelmed. It happens to me often. I don't think I will go to the presentation anyways. You can get the money from the bet if you actually did it.” Adam said, sitting down at the bench, his skirt rising even further in his thighs. Nigel's thoughts spacing for a second.

“No, that was a joke, kid. And if you ask me, I really think you should go, you fought hard to get it, what's a little cold now?” Nigel wasn't sure if he understood much about the boy, but now he was sure he wanted him on stage, he seemed so convinced and enthusiastic about the whole thing, Nigel almost saddened.

“You’re weird. How could you change your mind that fast? “ Adam asked, Nigel's behavior made him confused. The older boy was one big mystery for him, Nigel looks so confident but his eyes seem sad, Adam can't really say, he never was good at reading feelings.

“You just had a breakdown over socks and I'm the weird one?” Nigel said in an accusatory tone, receiving a frown from Adam.

“It wasn't a breakdown. It's called a meltdown, and yes, you're a very strange guy.” Adam reaffirmed, adjusting his skirt to cover a little more, for Nigel's disappointment. They heard voices and steps, people were coming already, so Nigel must think fast.

“You're coming and presenting. Not up to you I'm afraid.” Nigel said and before Adam could even protest, he was on Nigel's arm, his shoulder pressing into Adam's tummy. The skirt uncovered even more and it annoyed Nigel in some ways so he placed his hand on the exposed part of Adam's ass.

The touch was unexpected and made Adam nervous. Again. “What are you doing? Put me down… And take your hand away. Now!” He yelled, tried to wiggle to make it difficult for Nigel to carry him, but the older boy was an athlete. Something like this was too easy. Nigel didn't care how much Adam tried. He just left the fitting room with the boy in his arms and went to the ice rink.

Adam's kicks weren't strong enough to stop Nigel from getting what he wanted. His face was blushing from how strong the boy was, but he really wanted to be let down. Before he could complain any further, he noticed they were already on the stage, and Nigel finally let him down, with his arm around his waist so the boy didn't try to skate his way away from him.

“Brought in your last cheerleader. He was a bit distracted over there.” Nigel said and winked to the captain of the group, a tall brunette girl with whom he had flirted before, the girl, Beth, blushed and smiled.

“A guy? Are you joking Nigel? Good one then.” She laughed, but when Nigel's face didn't show amusement, she stopped. Her eyes checked Adam out.

“It's not a joke. Clearly the boy wants to be here” Nigel said, pointing vaguely to Adam, who seemed like he wanted to jump off his skin.

“His clothes are ripped. Nigel, you're a captain. You know the rules. No proper clothes, no participation.” The girl insisted, and it started to annoy Nigel.

“It's not his fault Lecter is a dickhead, giving him this tiny uniform, he has all the forms in order, just let him in!” Nigel added, “Also, you didn't seem to mind when I took off my shirt” He winked, trying to convince the girl to just let Adam join.

The cheer captain sighed and pointed to an empty spot, they were waiting for Adam anyways. “There, but take your socks off, you aren't wearing something torn to the first practice.” Beth said to Adam, thinking he would just leave as soon as he started feeling cold.

Then, she directed her attention to Nigel, “If he can't keep up with practices you're getting him back exactly how you brought him.” The girl threatened Nigel like the boy wasn't standing there listening.

“Now, look at me.” Nigel told Beth, getting her attention. In a low and threatening tone, he added “Don't you dare bully him, there are more new people here you can play with. And I would terrorize your favorite one if you do something to Adam.” He stepped back. “I will be watching you and your girls.” Nigel said, then he smiled and faced the other new cheers.
“I’m Nigel, hockey team captain. I hope for good cooperation. If my friends try to seduce you, come to me and I will beat their asses.”

Adam was surprised at how fast Nigel's tone changed from threatening to friendly, still standing uncomfortably stiff in the spot pointed by Beth, who sighed loudly and grabbed her pompoms.

“Well, welcome everyone. Today we will be cheering for the school hockey team, but since it is our first practice, we will keep it simple…” Beth continued, but Adam's thoughts were lost on the slight movement of the shiny red pom poms on her hands, slightly hypnotizing.

Nigel stared at Adam too, finding the boy cute and he knew he was fucked. He didn't find other things cute, girls were either hot or pretty, but never cute. Adam was different, genuinely adorable, and Nigel didn't know how to react.

“NIGEL, YOU FUCKER!” Darko scream was heard around all the ice rink. Nigel turned around and looked at his teammates, all twenty of them… “You were meant to wait for us, did you want to steal girls for yourself?” His friend accused him, taking Nigel out of his bubble where only Adam was, noticing that he was really the only one he paid attention to, he was absolutely fucked.

“Hey hey, calm down there, it just started, don't worry. There are plenty of cheerleaders to watch, one for each.” Nigel looked back at Adam, noticing the number ‘four’ on his little shirt, smiling when he noticed that it was the same one on his own uniform. Darko murmured something that Nigel didn't hear, and the coach started the training.

“Same positions as always, don't get too distracted by the girls- or boy.” The coach joked and Nigel wanted to punch him right in his face, forgetting that idea of bullying Adam for a second.

The coach went to sit down as he always did, leaving Nigel to guide the training of his team. Nigel chose to skip their off-ice warm up, he was sure his boys do some of the exercises before they get to the ice rink. At first, he was a bit distracted but with passing time, he lost his interest in cheers.

They do some basics. It was always well seen. Nigel sometimes corrected other boys and as always Darko made fun of it, saying that he is like the team’s strict father. But was that bad? Nigel didn't think so. After a bit of time, it was time for the main part, playing.

They made two teams and chose who will play first. Nigel at the beginning really watched the game, when he didn't participate. But slowly his eyes made his way onto the cheerleading team, specifically on Adam. He couldn't say that Adam was bad at it. Not bad, nor great.

There were so many different people wanting to start with cheerleading and they did worse than Adam, at least that was what Adam tried to believe. He did his best even if he felt observed. The feeling distracted him, but as long as Beth didn't complain or scream at him, it was fine. To tell the truth she never really complained about him, she mocks others but not him. Adam wasn't sure if it was because he is doing great or because of Nigel's threat.

Adam was satisfied by how the pompoms move and how repeatable the routine was. He doesn't even know when the time passed by and now they were having a little break.

“Are you guys boyfriends?” A calm, friendly voice called to Adam. He looked at Beth confused, but seeing her smile he couldn't ignore it and the corners of his lips went up too.

“You and Nigel.” She added, seeing his lost look. It made Adam blush.

“No, no… We don't really know each other that much. We aren't even friends. “ He quickly denied it and looked in the direction of the hockey team, Nigel just went on the ice.

“You’re sure? He carried you here, and you know… He touched you. It didn't seem like just strangers.” Beth continued and sat on the bench. Adam sat next to her, to continue the conversation. “Well, if you are really nothing, consider checking it out, because he was staring at you all day long.” The captain suggested with a warm smile, getting up again to grab water for her, Adam and a third bottle, handing them both to the boy and winking, Adam just stared at her confused.

“Thanks, but I don't need two bottles,” Adam said, tilting his head slightly, she sighed but kept her smile. “Adam, go give one to Nigel, I'm sure he will appreciate it, look how sweaty he is” She pointed with her head, directing Adam's attention to Nigel, who was staring at them.

Adam got up, a little clumsy due to lack of practice and slowly skated his way over Nigel, who helped him with a steady hand for Adam to grab and not fall. His legs were freezing.

“You need something? Did Beth tease you?” Nigel asked, squeezing Adam's hand. He was tired, covered with sweat but he didn't care for now.

“She was kind to me. I wanted to give you water… You seem really tired so…” Adam looked at Nigel's forehead avoiding the other boy's eyes. He felt silly standing here like this giving Nigel the bottle of water, but Nigel's smile reassured him.

Adam thought his smile was beautiful, teeth a little crooked, looking almost like fangs, he didn't notice his attention had been fully on his lips for almost a whole minute.

Nigel took the bottle and still holding Adam's hand, he skated to the exit from the ice “Come here, we can talk for a bit.” Nigel said, looking at Adam from the corner of his eye, when they got to the bench.

As soon as Adam stopped moving he was shivering, his hands wrapped around his body, seeking for a little warmth.

Nigel sat on the bench, he was watching Adam “Are you cold, Adam?” He smirked slightly, his thumb gently stroking the back of Adam's hand. When the boy nodded as a ‘yes’, Nigel pulled Adam to his lap. Embracing him and covering him with his own warm body, his body was sweaty from the recent training, but Adam didn't seem to mind.

“You're freezing kid, snuggle closer.” Nigel continued, he grabbed Adam and fixed his position on his lap, fully warming him. Adam blushed.

“You will get used to it over time, but for now if you get cold, you can come to hug me or take my jacket. The one with the 4 on the back.” Nigel said, rubbing softly Adam's body. Adam's blush didn't go unnoticed by Nigel, but he said nothing about it. He enjoyed the view.

Adam was nervous and embarrassed by the attention and a little caress. He knew that they were being observed by other teammates and was honestly surprised about Nigel's lack of reaction.

Before both of them noticed, the sound of the coach’s whistle interrupted their peace to announce that the break was completely finished. Falling on Nigel's shoulders the realization that they had spent the last fifteen minutes hugging Adam non stop.

Adam got up too quickly, his underwear almost showing if it wasn't for Nigel's quick reflexes taking care of the boy's public image. Adam didn't complain this time, and without goodbyes they both went their ways.

The second part of training was tiring and boresome, at least Nigel's could be focused on something better, like the cheerleaders looking pretty, winking and trying desperately to get his attention, but his thoughts and gaze kept shifting to Adam, who was surprisingly good at this, maybe the stunts were a little complicated, but the symmetry and repetition seemed to work excellent for the boy.
____

Adam was officially a part of the cheerleading team from now on. He even received the proper sized team uniform. He was in a friendly relationship with most of the girls. Even Beth.

He sometimes met with Nigel too. For skate training or going for lunch together. Adam even found the courage in himself to hug Nigel when he was cold.

It could be totally fine if not for Nigel's teammates. Adam felt like they judged them, or even mocked them. They didn't do anything bad, they were friends. So what was the deal?

Darko started teasing Nigel about it, and that's what bothered Adam the most. “When I said we should check out every cheerleader, Nigel, I didn't expect you would swoon for the first one you saw. What about the fun?” Darko had said and Adam heard it, two water bottles in his hand, on his way to the fitting room, wanting to congratulate Nigel for today's match, stopping when he heard his name.

He knew, logically, that Nigel was a very attractive man, but the realization that he ‘played around’ with girls, and the way Darko referred to him in that way made his stomach sink.

Did Nigel think about doing the same with him? just another plaything? Adam's thoughts filled with despair, he hadn't even realized how much he cared about Nigel's opinion of him until that second. He expected the boy to deny it, to tell his friend that Adam was more important, but he received another disappointment.

“It's not like I don't want to play around with the girls, you know? It's just that the kid is too cute, I'm worried they'll eat him up out there.” Nigel said, seemingly genuine, but his friend laughed.

“You, Nigel Bányai, care about a kid's feelings? Are you gay now? Or don't you remember that we used to bully kids like him? Are you going to tell me that it's different now? Or will you play with the boy until you break his heart?” Each of Darko's words were true, and Nigel didn't have the courage to answer, but his silence was louder.

Adam wasn't impulsive, he would never fight someone like Nigel, but his better reasoning was blurred by tears. He regretted snooping around. In a quick movement he came out of his hiding place and approached Nigel, left the water bottles on the floor and slapped him with all his force. Nigel's face turned to the left by the impact. Adam was about to leave when Darko grabbed his arm.

“Hey hey, where do you think you're going?” Darko said, manhandling Adam away from Nigel.

“Stupid, liar!” Adam kept yelling at Nigel, even when deep down he was the one that felt stupid for believing in someone like Nigel.

“Let him go, Darko” Was the only thing that Nigel said, his hand on his jaw, his boy was stronger than he noticed, and that thought made him unconsciously smile.

“Don't laugh at me. And you let me go!” Adam fought, his hands everywhere trying to squirm away from Darko’s grip, who refused to let him go. “You're soft now Nigel, you can't just let the boy in a skirt slap you with no consequences, you have a team to guide.” Darko told Nigel before grabbing Adam by his hair, and he saw red.

With almost military precision Nigel ran towards Darko and hit his chin with a hook, this made him let go of Adam, but before Nigel could apologize the boy had already run away.

Nigel was never really a good friend, and Darko wasn't far behind, he didn't surrender, and Nigel had emotions that he couldn't resolve, taking them all out on his friend. The fight wasn't silent, people heard the grunts and closed fist blows, and the sound of blood hitting the floor. Nigel had broken Darko’s nose, and the bastard cut open Nigel's lips.

It takes a few people and a lot of strength to separate them from each other and even when they were pulled apart, they still tried to kill each other with their gazes.

____

A knock on the door surprised Adam, his dad always told him when people were coming, he ran to his room.

Adam's dad opened the door and Nigel knew he was in a losing position. He didn't take care of his wounds and he looked like a criminal. Adam's dad probably wouldn't accept him.

“Mr. Raki? I'm here looking for Adam, sorry to come uninvited, please, would you tell him that Nigel is looking for him?”

The man stared at Nigel for a moment, frowning, before closing the door. Making Nigel feel like trash even more. But after a few minutes he could hear a quiet echo of the conversation in the house. He stayed still in front of the doors.

–

“But I don't want to see him dad!” Adam said, stomping his foot on the ground. He looked up at his father, who had a face expression that Adam couldn't read.

“Adam, the boy came all the way here, it would be the polite thing to do to let him enter. It's freezing outside.” His dad scolded him, and before Adam could hide again, he opened the door. “Welcome in, Nigel. I’ll leave you to chat. I’ll be in the garage. And Adam,” His father paused, trying to get his attention. “Be a good host.”

Adam didn't protest, and didn't speak until his father left the room.
“What do you think you're doing here?” Adam questioned with a frown.

Nigel moved his eyes onto Adam and felt like his heart was squeezing with pain. “Back there I should have- I was meant to say sorry, and maybe explain the situation, but it didn't go well.”

“Apologize for what Nigel? Are you telling me your friend was lying? that you never had and would never do that?” Adam fought, his arms crossed on his chest.

“Adam… you know I'm an idiot, but I wanted to be good for you,” Nigel said, his voice raw with sincerity and his eyes roaming on Adam's face. “I played with everyone before, but I wouldn't do it to you. “

“How could I trust you again? You lied.” Adam's eyes filled with tears, his breathing getting heavier. Seconds stretched into eternity as Nigel braced himself for the inevitable rejection.

“"I'm sorry, Adam. I should have stood up for you, but I didn't know how. I was a coward, and I let you down. Please, forgive me, at least for what Darko said.” Nigel tried his best to hide his sadness and anxiety, but they poured from him like water.

“I thought about playing with you at first, but… before I even noticed, you were the reason why I even came to the ice rink. If I had to change something, then I wouldn't change even a bit from the moments we spend together.” Nigel's words were honest, deciding to go with the whole truth. His lips curved, causing them to break once again, bleeding on his already stained shirt.

Adam wiped his own tears with the back of his hands, looking at Nigel. “You're an idiot.” He said, but hugged him, caressing his face with his ever gentle hands.

“I'm your idiot at least” Nigels arms tightened around Adam's body, the closeness made him calm, he wasn't rejected fully. Nigel enjoyed having his little world in his arms, even if only for a short moment.

“Go sit on the couch. I'll fetch the first aid kit, my idiot.” Adam ordered, walking away from the boy, who followed the directions diligently. Nigel wasn't here for the first time so he easily found the living room and took a seat on the couch.

Adam came back with a wet rag, and a little old lunch box, which was decorated with stars and planets, and filled to the brim with band aids, gauze, and other simple meds for when Adam hurted himself. He sat down next to Nigel and used the rag to slowly clean the wounds on his hands. Then, he moved to his slitted eyebrow, and finally his lips, slowly focusing on them.

“Does that mean that you are forgiving me? “ Nigel asked, his eyes glued to Adams hands. He let Adam clean his wounds, sometimes grimacing by the ache it caused. He let his mind fill with hope, a warm, soft feeling in his body. Maybe he could be loved.

“I want to forgive you Nigel…” Adam stopped his movements for a moment, his voice barely louder than a murmur. “I don't like liars, and you know that. Forgiving has always been a process for me, and right now I'm still finding my way.” He looked at Nigel, his eyes still watery. “I want to trust you again, more than anything. And I'm willing to take the risk. But are you?” Adam asked, trying to calm himself.

“ I am ready for anything you would like me to be ready for. If it's something small, big, can be meaningless for me, I will do it as long as it helps us, Adam.” Nigels hands reached to Adams cheek and rubbed it softly.

“My forgiveness is something that needs to be earned, to be proven through actions, not just words.” Adam said and kissed him, the wet rag long forgotten in his touchy hands, which were now on his shoulders.

Sudden moves made Nigel stiffen, something he didn't expect even in a thousand years. He didn't react, making them slip apart. When big Adam’s blue eyes met Nigel’s, he couldn't help himself but kissed Adam again, pouring every little emotion into the soft caress. He grabbed the boy by his hips, guiding him to his lap. Adam allows Nigel to straddle him on his lap, his hands slipped into the older boy's hair.

Nigel led their next heated kiss, their lips fit each other's perfectly. Every little emotion which was bottled up by them was let out, they were lost but pleased by the affection from one another.

They embrace each other, touch and caress, hands traveling down until they get to each other's hips, and when the air starts to get dense when Adam’s dad steps into the room.

“By being a good host, I didn't mean that. I should prepare a talk about safety.”

As fast as the words were said, the boys jumped away from each other, their faces covering in blush. Adam's father pretended to cover his eyes.

“Alright, I saw nothing Adam… and friend. Just came here to ask if the boy was staying for dinner.” The man said but didn't leave, instead, he stayed in the kitchen to cook dinner, Adam looked at Nigel, who had a suspiciously placed pillow between his legs.

Adam was flushing red, looking down avoiding his father's gaze and Nigel's cocky grin. “We should have gone to my house…” The taller boy whispered in Adam's ear, making him get impossibly redder. The reddened cheeks made Nigels grin widen. “I take that as a yes then.”

Adam hid his face in his hands and nodded, even there Nigel could notice his blushing on his red ears.

Nigel did as Adam's dad said, and stayed for dinner. Which was an unexpectedly pleasing experience, the warm conversation and attention he lacked in his house.

And he already felt as if he was accepted by Mr. Raki. His heart warmed at the thought.

The food was macaroni and cheese, which didn't surprise Nigel, as Adam usually said that he had that when he needed comfort, and his father had seen him cry earlier today. The mere idea of Adam bawling because of him, and his stupidity pained him, specially because he wasn't there to comfort him.

__

Nigel felt weird when Adam said that he would walk him home, but when he tried to refuse, he was just ignored by the younger boy, who yelled once he was at the entrance. “Dad, I’ll walk Nigel home. He’s hurt, I'll be right back!”

“I know my way to the dooro-” Nigel wasn't able to finish the sentence after being shushed by Adam, closing the door behind him. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed him, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Nigel kissed Adam back as soon as he stopped the shock, his hands on the boy's waist, smiling proudly.

“So… Where were we?” Nigel tried to kiss him passionately again, not caring they were still on Adam’s porch, and that his dad could probably see them from the kitchen window. But Adam stepped back, his cheeks pink. “Let's get you home first. You need to lie down or your wounds won’t heal.” Adam didn’t wait for an answer before starting walking in Nigel’s house direction, it was not too far away, he could almost remember when they were kids in the same neighborhood park. They weren’t friends, Nigel was older and Adam didn’t like to get his pristine clothes dirty.

“You know Adam… We could’ve met so long ago, I think I would have liked you as a kid, but maybe it was destiny” Nigel said sweetly, as they crossed a playground, thinking about Adam as a little kid made the older boy smile.

“We would have hated each other. And destiny isn’t real.” Adam replied logically, but still smiled softly when Nigel grabbed his hand.

“I was trying to be sweet, gorgeous. Don’t you think those stars of yours have our future written on them?” Nigel asked, his hand caressing Adam’s looking up at the sun setting, the stars were barely visible.

“That’s astrology Nigel, I like astronomy! But if you’re talking logically, our atoms and those of everything that exists are made from the debris of ancient stars that went supernova in the distant past of the universe, the process started with water and minerals around like 13 billion years ago and our solar system is thought to have formed only 4.5 billion years ago.” Adam shared, continuing to add details as Nigel asked for them, even when he wasn't sure if he understood them at all.

Faster than they both had expected, it was time to part ways. They got to the door of Nigel’s house, the house was empty and dark, already in the deeper part of the neighborhood.
“Adam… before you go, I have something for you. Come in!” NIgel said cheerfully, guiding Adam through the mess of his home until they reached his room, fairly less messy than the rest of the house, but definitely not clean up to Adam’s neat style.

“Where the fuck did I left it?” Nigel murmured to himself, and Adam had to stop himself from answering that he couldn’t possibly know. While Nigel searched, Adam sat on the undone bed. He folded the blanket that had fallen to the floor, waiting for whatever Nigel was planning to give to him.

From a box under the drawer Nigel pulled his first cheerleading uniform, smiling proudly like it was a hunt. Adam tilted his head like a lost puppy.

“My short uniform? How did you get it? I had given it back to the rector, and I doubt he decided to just give it to you.” Adam asked, grabbing the uniform and placing it in his lap.

“Well, let’s just say I borrowed it and that Dr. Lecter has to change his locks now,” Nigel said with a cocky smile, sarcastic emphasis on the doctor title. “Put it on for me, yeah?”

Adam was confused until it clicked “Does seeing me wear this excite you?” He asked directly, smiling when Nigel blushed.

“No. Definitely not.” Nigel started to say but his tone pointed out something else. “…yeah.”

“Don't worry, I don't find it weird. If I had to be honest, then I would say that I had watched videos about it too, and I'm very much excited when you take your t-shirt off after training.” Adam added, not even a bit of shyness in his voice, nor a blush covering his cheeks.

“Then I have an idea, you are putting the skirt on, and I can strip my t-shirt off.” Nigel said, finding the chance in Adam's confession.

“Guess it's nothing inappropriate. We can do that.” Adam answered with a little smile on his lips, the proposal itself doesn't sound that bad. He could look at Nigel without shame and the price was only wearing the skirt, he did it every day.

So when Nigel told him where the bathroom was, he changed his pants into the shirt Nigel gave him and it seemed like it was even shorter now. After a few training sessions, his body gained some muscle.

Adam's skirt was barely covering anything, but he smiled knowing the effect it had on Nigel. He left the tiny bathroom after putting on the whole uniform and fixing his curls on his forehead.

Nigel was shirtless, his strong body looking almost more irresistible with the marks of the blows he received. Nigel motioned with his hand to twist, like you would to a puppy, and Adam gave a little twirl, revealing even more under his skirt.

“You're aroused,” Adam pointed out, not as a question, but more as a statement of a fact, Nigel nodded, without being able to deny it.

“Yes, go tell your dad you're staying over tonight, Adam.” Nigel said, fixing his pants while Adam was bending down to grab his pants, accidentally showing more as he pulled his phone out of the pocket, asking his father for permission to stay the night. After a few minutes, Adam smiled.

“He said yes, and reminded me that we need to use protection.” Adam said, and Nigel knew he wouldn't survive the night with his boy.