Chapter Text
Chad Danforth was sitting on the couch on the first night of mid-winter break watching a movie with his mom and sister when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Chad said because he wanted more popcorn anyway. He set the bowl down on the kitchen island and went to open the door. I wonder who could be here at ten o'clock in the night in a rainstorm, in February? He thought as he opened the door. On the stoop stood Ryan Evans, soaked to the bone in only a white t-shirt and pajama pants, that by Chad's standards looked pretty thin for the cold weather. When Ryan looked up at him he saw that the boy was crying, tears streaming out of his baby blue eyes.
“Come in Ry,” Chad waved him in. Ryan’s shaking form visibly relaxed a little as he stepped inside. He helped Ryan take off his shoes which were untied as if he had thrown on his sneakers and ran. The poor boy was shivering, arms wrapped around his thin frame. Just then Chad’s mom walked into the kitchen to see who was there.
“Oh,” she said, surprised as she saw Ryan, “Ryan? What are you doing here at this hour?”
She then noticed the state he was in and walked closer with the mom instinct to check on him. Ryan flinched and Chad stepped in front of him blocking his mom.
“I think he needs his space right now ma’,” Chad gave her a reassuring smile, “I’ve got this. Go back and watch the movie with Callie.”
His mom smiled back and nodded, throwing one last worried glance at Ryan and went back to the living room. Chad reached out to the blonde and asked, “Can I?”. Ryan nodded and Chad placed a gentle hand on his back leading him upstairs. He turned the shower on in the bathroom and made sure it was hot enough to warm Ryan up, but not too hot that it would hurt him. He began to walk towards his room to grab some dry clothes and a towel, but he felt a tug on his sleeve.
“Don’t leave,” Ryan said in the smallest voice Chad had ever heard him use. He turned towards the shivering boy.
“You can come with me if that’s what’s most comfortable for you,” Chad smiled softly at him and let Ryan keep clinging to his arm while he walked into his room rifling through his dresser for something that would fit the smaller boy. Chad decided on a pair of sweatpants and one of his wildcat sweatshirts. He grabbed a big fluffy towel and they went back to the bathroom. Ryan had stopped crying, but his eyes were glossy and distant. He waited patiently, turned towards the door while Ryan undressed and got in the shower. Chad sat on the bathroom floor and listened to the therapeutic noise of the water. When Ryan was done Chad handed him the towel and he dried off. He missed his hair so after he had gotten dressed Chad dried it for him until it was soft and fluffy. Chad then at last hugged him. Ryan melted into the embrace and he began to cry again, his pent up emotions all rushing out.
“You wanna lie down,” He asked softly. Ryan nodded and the two lay under the covers on Chad's bed, the taller hugging the smaller to his chest. Ryan snuggled into him and Chad carded a hand through Ryan's soft blonde hair.
“It’s okay,” Chad mumbled soothingly, “I’ve got you. You’re okay, you’re safe.”
That made Ryan cry harder into his chest. Eventually though his tears slowed down and he drifted off to sleep. Chad was a calming presence to him, something about the gentle way he held Ryan and how he always knew what would make Ryan comfortable made the boy forget all his worries. Chad smiled at Ryan's peaceful sleeping form as he himself drifted off.
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Chad woke up from the sunlight streaming in through his window. Uhg, I forgot to close the blinds, he thought, getting up slowly making sure not to wake Ryan. He closed the curtains and took a moment to gaze at the beautiful boy curled up in his bed. Ryan muttered adorably in his sleep. He looked like a kitten, so soft and small and innocent. I should make some breakfast, the boy thought, opening his door as quietly as possible. Yawning, he shuffled into the kitchen. His mother was standing at the counter with a cup of coffee.
“Morning,” Chad grabbed the coffee pot to pour himself some. There was a minute of silence when they both thought of what to say.
“How is he?” Chad sighed, deciding how much information to share with his mother.
“He’s better now,” the boy hesitated, “his dad doesn’t… agree with his sexuality.”
“He doesn’t…” His mom paused, but Chad got the message.
“No, they just argue,” Chad slid into a stool, “I-I’ve been fearing the day he shows up with a black eye.”
“Oh honey,” She gave him a sympathetic look, “let's pray that’s never the case, but if lord forbid it does happen, he’ll always have a home here.”
“Thanks mom,” He got up to check the fridge, “now what’s easy to make and will impress the prettiest boy I’ve ever seen in my life?”