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Andy had never felt sunlight quite like this. Not just warm, but freeing—the kind that sank deep into his bones, thawing the cold that had lived in him for far too long. He sat on the balcony of the tiny apartment he and Tim now called home. Piper was safe in her small but cozy bedroom inside. Andy often found himself having to remind himself of that fact these days. The pervasive darkness of his foster mother Laura's home still seemed to have a grip on his mind.
Andy and Piper had barely managed to escape the fucked up ritual Laura was planning to bring back her late daughter Cathy. Laura's gaslighting and manipulation of him had almost succeeded. Thankfully, his case worker had listened when he begged her to follow him out back to the shed on Laura's property, which contained her daughter's corpse. The next few hours had been a whirlwind of police investigations, questioning, and hospital visits. He and Piper had been separated at first until the police were able to piece together the fragmented parts of Laura's plan, coming to the same disturbing conclusion Andy had reached just hours before.
Closing his eyes, Andy let the subtle warmth of the sun wash over his face. Exhaling, he tried to let his body relax, releasing the tension that had gathered at his shoulders from remembering the horror he had witnessed with his sister. After their escape, he and Piper were placed in a new foster home, this one much safer than the last, as assured by multiple members of both police and child protective services. Their new family, undeniably, was much nicer. Regardless, as soon as he turned 18, Andy filed for guardianship of his little sister. Using the money they had from CPS, he had found a small apartment where they now lived. Andy began working at a nearby bakery/cafe. This was where he met Tim.
Tim met Andy at his lowest point. He had just escaped from a horrific situation. He was jittery, scared, and untrusting. Piper would always come first, but the weight of protecting his sister from an abusive father, followed by a psychotic foster mother, had taken its toll on him. Tim, shockingly, was able to break through all of Andy's defenses. First, as a friend. Dropping by the cafe day by day to say hi and chat for a bit. They exchanged numbers and soon they were chatting nearly every day. Bit by bit, Andy felt himself begin to open up and trust once again. The progression from friendship to a romantic relationship was slow. Nearly two years of subtle shows of trust and compassion between them began to build and build until one day Andy felt himself wanting more. Tim had been there for him day after day. And not just him, but Piper too. He was good with her. Good with them really.
Tim leaned against the doorway, watching Andy with that soft, knowing smile. "You look different," he said. Startled, Andy flinched slightly, looking up to meet Tim's warm gaze.
"Different how?" Andy asked, tilting his head.
Tim shrugged, stepping closer. "Lighter. Like you're finally breathing."
Andy let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Maybe he was breathing now. For years, he'd been drowning—silent, afraid, carrying the weight of his father's abuse on his back, trying his best to protect Piper from the world around them. His time at Laura's had been damaging to say the least. The gaslighting had made him feel crazy and opened up old wounds from his father that he had thought were healed. She nearly turned his little sister against him and killed her in the process. But now, they had this—Tim’s arms around his waist, Piper safe in a room of her own design one door over, and the scent of freshly baked bread drifting out from the kitchen.
Happiness had once felt like a distant dream, like something reserved for other people. But here it was, tangible and real.
Tim kissed Andy’s forehead, lingering there for just a second longer than necessary, his touch firm, grounding. "I love you," he murmured, wrapping Andy in a warm embrace. His arms around him grounded him, filling him up with a sense of security and safety, ripping him away from traumatic memories of the past and brining him into the present. Tim would keep him safe and in turn they would protect Piper.
Andy closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace, pressing his forehead against Tim’s, taking in the steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his skin, the safety and protection he provided. "I love you, too" he sighed. He let himself linger in Tim's arms for a little while longer before giving into the temptation of checking on Piper. He shifted in Tim's embrace slightly. moving to stand up and make his way back into their shared apartment, when Tim tightened his hold around him keeping him still.
As if knowing what Andy was going to go do Tim quickly reasured him "don't worry Piper is safe. She's just taking a nap in her room right now," and punctaed his point with another kiss pressed to his forehead. Andy sighed, feeling himself relax slightly. It was still difficult even all these years later to reasure himself that Piper was truly safe now. Tim knew this though and was quick to assuage his fears when he noticed Andy work himself up.
"Thank you," Andy murmered. "I'm sorry".
Tim pulled back slightly, grabbing Andy's shoulders and drawing his eyes up to meet his own. "Don't apologize baby, there's nothing to be sorry for".
Andy searched Tim's gaze for any sign of a lie but all he could see was earnest honesty. Nodding, he once again leaned into Tim's embrace. This time, deliberatley laying his head over Tim's heart, listening to the soft reasurring sound of his heart beat.
"I love you," Andy repeated.
"I love you too baby," Tim murmered into his hair, leaning down to drop a kiss to the crown of his head. Andy felt his heart swell. Here he was, finally safe. His amazingly kind and patient boyfriend holding him close and his little sister safe and napping comfortably indoors. He relaxed, embracing the calm of their quiet domestic life. He was finally safe.