(no subject)

[catlover2x.livejournal.com]

Title: The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Vulgar Little Beasties in Love
Author: Catlover2x
Pairings: Nick/Greg, other
Summary: AU. Greg and Nick face down the bullies, have lunch and get a little “friendlier”. Nick is introduced to Papa Olaf and Norwegian food.
Rating: Chapter 3: R
Chapters: 3/17
Disclaimer: So I was talking to Greg the other day and he assured me that this whole story is true, just as he told it to me. Okay, I wasn't really talking to him so call me a liar. Therefore this is all lies.
Beta'd by the extremely elegant Liriel and the divine Miss Kennedy
Dedicated to: mangojunkie



Greg smiled when he saw Nick waiting for him on the stoop the next morning. Nick looked up at him and smiled back. After the kiss, Greg had wondered if Nick would ever speak to him again, much less hang out with him. Even if it was Nick who had kissed him.

After all, it had happened before. Two years ago, another friend, David, had backed Greg against a locker and kissed him. Romantically, Greg had thought he had a boyfriend, until the next day, when David acted as if they’d never even met. It cut him deeply and it took a long time to get over it. When you’re fourteen and think you’re in love, it’s like the end of the world when your “boyfriend” won’t so much as look at you after one kiss.

“Hey,” Nick said and stood up. “How’s your arm?”

“Getting better,” Greg said nonchalantly. They walked in silence for a while.

“You want to eat lunch?”

“Sure,” Greg said in surprise. “Cafeteria? Fourth period?”

“I was thinking we could do Walton’s,” Nick said nervously.

Greg’s mouth opened in a little “O”. “Um, sure.”

Nick smiled at the beaming expression on Greg’s face.

“Um, I never would have thought you were…” Greg’s voice died away.

“Gay?” Nick smirked. “Football is a great disguise. But, it’s not like I’ve done anything either.”

“You are a man of many surprises,” Greg mused.

“I try,” Nick grinned. “See you at lunch?”

“Sure.”

~*~

Nick waited for Greg in front of the school.

Greg emerged emptyhanded, having left his books in his locker, and came to meet Nick with a big smile.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

Walton’s was nearby, one of those old fashioned drug stores that sold prescriptions, over the counter medications and candy, but it also had a soda shoppe, complete with a counter lined with red vinyl chrome stools and bench-lined booths. You could get lunch or dinner, complete with an ice-cream soda or an egg-cream.

Most of the food was heavy and cholesterol-laden, but they roasted a turkey fresh everyday, making for spectacular sandwiches.

They walked over to Walton’s, talking about their classes. Both boys were a little too uncomfortable to talk about the attraction that made the air electric between them.

“So did your mother ask what my parents do for a living?” Nick finally asked.

“Of course,” Greg answered. “Luckily your parents have respectable white collar professions. She wanted to know why they transferred here.”

Nick told him about the think tank and Greg groaned. “Fuck. She’s going to want to meet them.”

“Hey, don’t sweat it. My parents are cool,” Nick shrugged.

“Maybe I better let you know what they’re in for,” Greg said apprehensively. They walked into Walton’s and Greg led the way. “It’s seat yourself here.”

“Greg! Nick! Over here!” Greg looked at Nick apologetically as Archie hailed them, waving them over. He was sitting in a booth with Sara.

The two boys slid in, Nick next to Sara and Greg falling into the booth almost on top of Archie. The two boys wrestled playfully for a moment, then settled to look at the menu.

The waitress came over. She was a pleasant faced middle-aged woman. “Hey, kids, who’s your friend?”

“This is Nick. Nick, this is Sofia,” Greg introduced them.

Nick stood and held out his hand. Sofia shook it, grinning. “What a polite boy.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Nick smiled.

“Oooh, from Texas. They bring ’em up right there.” She gave him an evil grin as he blushed. “So what’ll you have?”

The three boys ordered turkey sandwiches, while Sara ordered a salad. Greg also asked for a coffee ice-cream soda.

“How come you didn’t get the turkey, Sara? Greg said it was the best thing here,” Nick asked.

“I don’t eat flesh,” she answered repressively. “I’m a vegetarian.”

“Well, look who’s eating with the fairy,” Conrad sauntered over, with Alex and Lloyd following close behind. “You don’t seem to care much what company you keep, Stokes.”

“Actually I care a lot, which is why I’m eating with them.” Nick glared, clenching his fists.

“Yeah, sure. A lezzie, a dork and a faggot,” Lloyd said in a mean voice.

Nick started to stand up and Sara pulled him back down by his belt. “Just ignore them. They’ll go away.”

“Yeah, we don’t wanna bother the lez,” Alex snickered but Nick was surprised to see hunger in the boy’s eyes as he looked at Sara.

“You calling her a lesbian because she wouldn’t date you?” Greg asked provocatively. “Maybe she’s just picky.”

“You fucking fairy, hiding behind your lez girlfriend and your new boyfriend,” Conrad snarled. He hauled Greg up out of his seat by his shirt.

Greg smirked at him and yanked his shirt out of the bigger boy’s grip. “Careful, now. You don’t want to be touching a fairy. It’s catching, you know.”

Conrad took a step back. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Up to a year ago, I was a normal guy, just like you,” Greg said. “Then… I caught it.” He leaned forward and hissed the last words into Conrad’s face.

“H– how? How’d you catch it?”

“It’s like germs,” Greg said conspiratorially. “You stand too close and you could catch it. One of them breathed on me. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. But then my wrists went limp.” He waved the brace on his left wrist in Conrad’s face. “Corrective brace, but I’m not sure it’s working. Then this overwhelming feeling came over me. I wanted, no, I needed to learn…” he leaned closer again, “Flower arranging.”

“Fuck!” Lloyd took a step back. “Is that why you take home ec instead of a sport?”

“Yeah,” Greg nodded solemnly. “I wanted to wear an apron. With a ruffle.”

A strangled choke came from Sara, and Archie was openly grinning. Nick was looking at his new friend with awe.

Alex quavered, “Who – who gave it to you, man?”

“A homo, of course,” Greg answered. “A real flamer. He just leaned in closer and just breathed, ‘Hi, there, honey.” He leaned closer and let his breath out as he spoke. Alex jumped back. “That’s what did it.”

“And you let him?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” Greg said sadly. “He cornered me in a dark alley. It was at night. Nobody could hear me scream. So, maybe you better not stand so close and you definitely shouldn’t be putting your hands on me.”

“Fuck, no!” The Twists backed away from the smaller boy. “Fucking hell!”

“So you see, you gotta be careful. Normal one day, fairy the next.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Conrad mumbled and the other two turned with alacrity, leaving the drugstore in haste.

Greg sat down and bowed to his friends’ laughter. Some of the people at the nearby tables applauded and Sofia plunked their plates on the table gracelessly, she was shaking so hard with the giggles. She swooped in and kissed Greg on the brow. “You nut! Lunch is on the house, I haven’t laughed so hard in a week.”

Archie raised his hand and high-fived Greg’s good hand. “Why didn’t you do that in the bathroom when they cornered you?”

“I had to think it up first,” Greg smirked. “And it only works with an audience. They would have cared less in the bathroom.”

“You were brilliant.” Nick marveled at Sara’s face as she spoke; she looked so pretty when she smiled. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“I hate that word,” Greg’s face darkened. “Lez. It’s worse than fairy.”

Nick and Archie nodded at that.

“It’s okay,” Sara said calmly. “I am a lesbian. I’m proud of it even though I don’t broadcast it. I don’t care what those jerks think.”

Nick was stunned. San Francisco was certainly different from Austin.

~*~

“You want to come in?”

“Is Professor Sanders going to be home?” Nick asked nervously.

“No, they’re at some conference. Papa Olaf is coming over later and you could meet him,” Greg said hopefully.

Nick felt that he’d enjoy meeting someone who actually liked Greg, other than Sara and Archie. And better yet, maybe he would get to kiss him again. “I have to call my mom,” he said. “Can I come inside?”

“Sure,” Greg unlocked the door and sat on a chair to wait.

Nick smiled as he hung up. “I can stay for dinner but I can’t spend the night.”

Greg looked slightly alarmed, (who said anything about spending the night?) but stood to lead Nick up to his room to dump their books. “You want some cookies or something?”

Nick advanced on him purposefully. “No, I want you to breathe on me,” he grinned.

“Sounds to me like you already caught it,” Greg grinned and grabbed Nick, leaning in for a kiss.

Surprised by the younger boy’s aggression, Nick cooperated fully, pulling him closer and grinding away as their lips met. He plunged his tongue deeply into Greg’s mouth and moaned as he felt him suck on it ferociously.

Their hands were moving, gripping each other tightly and Greg staggered back under Nick’s assault, crashing into his desk. Nick pulled him away from it and stumbled over his backpack on the floor. They swayed, kissing breathlessly and pulling on each other. Finally Nick pushed Greg against the wall, grinding the bulge in his jeans against Greg’s flat stomach, finding the hardness, sliding their cocks together.

Greg moaned, never pulling his mouth away from Nick’s, fumbling urgently at the other boy’s jeans. He wormed his hand inside the boxers and gave a smothered yelp of triumph as he managed to find Nick’s erection and stroked the hot flesh frantically. Nick groaned into Greg’s mouth when he felt warm fingers close around his cock, humping the hand frantically. He tried to get his hand inside Greg’s baggy jeans, but couldn’t locate the zipper in the baggy folds, so he cupped the hard bulge and rubbed it. Both boys breathed hard through their noses, unwilling to stop kissing, sucking for air as they struggled against each other.

Nick pulled his mouth off Greg’s, burying his face in the crook of his neck, urgent moans escalating in volume as he got closer. Greg was gasping under Nick’s hand moving on his crotch, and he moaned as he felt hot wetness on his hand. He kept moving until he came too, heaving up against Nick’s weight pinning him to the wall.

Both boys stilled, gasping for air, leaving their hands where they were on each other’s crotches.

Finally Nick pushed himself back slightly, looking into Greg’s dazed brown eyes. “Fuck!”

“Fuck, yeah!” Greg grinned enthusiastically. “We just had sex!”

Nick snorted with laughter and moved his hands to hold Greg around the waist. “Well, sort of.”

“I’ll take it,” Greg said. He kissed Nick quickly, then looked away.

“What’s the matter?” Nick asked, quick to notice the emotion that flickered in the younger boy’s eyes.

“Nothing,” Greg said. “Hey, we have to wash our pants before Papa Olaf gets here.” He started to slide away from Nick, but the older boy held him in place.

“No you don’t. Tell me what’s bothering you.” He kissed one of Greg’s moles and nuzzled his neck.

Greg giggled as Nick tickled his neck, and gave a big sigh. “So…”

“So?”

“Does this mean you’re my boyfriend?” Greg asked, looking up to see Nick beaming at him.

“I hope so!”

Greg grinned. “Cool.”

~*~

They did their homework while Greg put their pants and shorts through the washer and dryer. Although they’d kissed and touched each other, Nick went to the bathroom to change into the same baggy pair of track pants Greg had lent him before. They didn’t speak of it but somehow they were bashful about getting naked in front of each other. It was almost as if both boys knew once they took that step, there would be no turning back.

Then there was also the fact that Papa Olaf could never be pinned down to an actual arrival time. It was part of his playful nature. He’d told Greg he would be there in time for dinner but that could mean anything from five to eight pm. Therefore Greg was extremely relieved when he got their pants out of the dryer and Nick could get dressed again.

They were watching TV in the living room, having finished their homework. Nick was surprised to see that Greg did not have a TV in his bedroom although when he thought about it, he wouldn’t have expected Professor Sanders to permit one. They were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, clinging to the arms as if they needed to anchor to something to stay as far away from each other as possible when the front door swung open.

Nick was surprised to see Greg launch himself at the tall old man who walked in. Papa Olaf dropped his shopping bag and grabbed the boy in a warm embrace, lifting him off the floor. He kissed Greg’s forehead and cheeks several times, looking fondly at the boy’s glowing face, before putting him down. Greg left his arm hooked over his grandfather’s shoulder and turned to introduce Nick.

“This is Papa Olaf, Nick. Papa Olaf, this is my friend Nick, from school.”

“How do you do, sir? Glad to meet you.” Nick rose and shook the older man’s hand.

Papa Olaf surveyed Nick with knowing eyes and a friendly smile. He was tall and slender; Nick could see where Greg inherited his build and his fair skin, warm brown eyes and goofy smile. But Papa Olaf was taller and more powerfully built, with thinning hair combed straight back.

“It is nice to meet you, Nicholas,” he said with a distinct European accent. “Greg has told me much about his new friend. And I see he was right.” He grinned wickedly at the look of alarm that Nick turned toward Greg.

Greg sniggered and relented. “I told Papa Olaf about the Twists in the bathroom.”

Papa Olaf’s face became more serious and he said, “I thank you, my boy. Sometimes we all need assistance from the kindness of strangers. And from strangers we make our friends.”

Nick was abashed by the thanks, but was also pleased with how tactfully Papa Olaf had phrased it; at some level he knew that Greg had a hard time accepting help.

“And now, boys, what shall we do for supper? Shall we cook or go out?”

“Let’s cook. I thought you were bringing lapskaus* for us?” Greg suggested.

“Of course, and I shall need my two assistant chefs to help me. We will just need to stretch it a little.”

Nick was amazed and delighted with the dinner Papa Olaf whipped up with their help. He and Greg had chopped carrots and potatoes as directed while Papa Olaf dealt with the beef he’d brought with him. Apparently Greg always asked him to make lapskaus; his mother disdained Norwegian food, so Papa Olaf’s question had been rhetorical. He knew how Greg loved his lapskaus and he’d come prepared to make the meal.

After they cleaned up the kitchen, the three went into the living room to watch TV. Papa Olaf sat in a comfortable leather chair and as Greg walked past, pulled him down onto his lap. Nick was touched as he watched Papa Olaf hug Greg, who folded his long limbs to fit sideways in the chair. Nick might have been tempted to laugh but the old world expression of affection touched him; he was glad that Greg had someone who adored him just as he was in spite of his eyeliner, weird hair and loud shirts.

After a final hug and kiss, Papa Olaf let Greg go and the three ignored the TV while they chatted and laughed. Papa Olaf was as intelligent as Greg, with the same impish sense of humour. Finally at nine, Nick got up to go home. He thanked Papa Olaf both for the dinner and the evening.

Papa Olaf held his hand in both his big ones, looking down at him with gentle eyes. In a very quiet voice he said, “Thank you for taking care of my boy.”

Nick beamed up at him; instinctively knowing the understanding in Papa Olaf’s eyes was a blessing of their budding friendship. He didn’t know how he knew that, but he was certain they had found an important ally.

Greg walked Nick out, opening the inner door, so that they stood in the enclosed porch. “So, do you like him?”

“He’s great!” Nick said enthusiastically. “I can see why you love him so much. And he doesn’t care about us. He’s happy for us.”

Greg looked surprised. “How – how do you know, did he say anything?”

“No,” Nick shook his head. “I just know. If you told him, I bet he’d be cool about it.”

“Wow,” Greg looked stunned. “Maybe I talked about you too much. I better shut up.”

“You told him about me?” Nick was pleased.

“Well, yeah, you’re–” Greg stopped, looking down and blushing.

Nick moved closer and slid his arms around Greg’s waist and the younger boy put his arms on Nick’s shoulders. “I’m what?”

“Important to me.”

Nick kissed him softly on the lips. “You’re important to me too.”

Greg beamed at him in the dim light and it was all Nick could do to tear himself away. “See you tomorrow, okay?”

“See you.”

Greg shut the door behind Nick and returned to the living room, hoping he wasn’t blushing or doing some other dorky thing that would give him away.

Papa Olaf had moved to the couch and smiled at Greg, patting the couch invitingly. Greg sat down next to him. Papa Olaf put his arm around Greg and pulled him closer. “So, Nicholas is your boyfriend?”

Greg looked up at his grandfather with an adorable mix of terror, pride and shy happiness on his face. “You can’t tell Wendy, please, Papa. Or Edward.”

“You mean your mother and father?”

“Yeah, but I can’t call them that, even with you, because then I forget and slip when I’m talking to them.”

Papa Olaf shook with laughter. “Sorry, søten**. Your mother hasn’t much sense of humour, I’m sorry to say. I won’t say a word to them.”

“Thanks, Papa,” Greg sighed and laid his head on his grandfather’s shoulder. “Isn’t he great?”

“He seems like a very nice boy,” Papa Olaf agreed. “How long have you known him?”

“A week,” Greg said defensively.

“Sometimes that is long enough,” Papa Olaf said. “Be careful and go slow. He does seem like he is well brought up. And he has a kind heart, that counts for much.”

~*~

“Oh my God!”

Nick laughed and crossed to the bed where Greg was curled up, his head buried under a pillow. He rooted under the pillow, trying to pull the younger boy out.

“Come on, it’s not that bad,” he said consolingly.

“It’s worse than bad,” Greg groaned piteously. “What did I do to deserve this?”

“At least Papa Olaf’s down there. My mom and dad like him, I can tell,” Nick said, suppressing his urge to laugh at his boyfriend’s dramatics.

“Your mother and father will never let you speak to me again!”

“You forget, they deal with all kinds of people and they’re pretty quick to size them up,” Nick explained. “They can tell you’re not like your parents.”

“But my mother is cross examining them, like they’re… criminals or something!”

Nick did laugh at that. “Don’t worry, it’ll do them good to be on the other end of a cross examination for once. Although I did think my mother was going to laugh in your mother’s face when she told her that organized sports are a manifestation of male aggression, designed to prepare young boys for war.”

“A formalized manifestation. That’s why she got me into home ec instead,” Greg corrected. Nick succeeded in pulling him up and rested against the headboard with his arms around him. Greg leaned his head on Nick’s shoulder.

“Do you like home ec?”

“Yeah, it’s just like chemistry, except you can eat the result,” Greg said with a smile.

“So did you ever get a toy gun?” Nick asked, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it anyway.

“Of course not. I used a stick until Papa Olaf gave me one.” Greg snuggled into the older boy’s neck.

“She didn’t take it away?”

“She never knew, it was kept at his house,” Greg replied.

Nick stretched a bit, easing his cock in his jeans. He gently pushed Greg away. “I can’t be this close to you… if they come upstairs…” he trailed off in embarrassment.

The hurt look changed to delight on Greg’s face. “Cool!” he whispered, his eyes on Nick’s crotch. “Me too.”

“Can’t tell, your pants are so baggy.”

“See, it’s not just my excellent fashion sense, they’re practical too!” Greg smirked.

“You’re such a dork.” They stared at each other and Nick sat down at the desk. “What do you think is happening downstairs?”

“I’m hoping Wendy will like your parents enough that I’ll be allowed to hang out with you.”

“You mean, you could come to my house after school?” Nick asked hopefully.

“Only if she approves,” Greg answered with a sigh.

“Are you allowed to go anywhere?”

“Sara’s house. Archie’s. The library. That’s pretty much it and I have to let Wendy know in advance.”

“Do you actually do that?”

“Nah, I go lots of places, I just don’t tell her,” Greg said with a grin. “Archie and Sara are cool, they’re willing to cover for me.”

A discreet knock sounded at the door and Greg immediately called, “Come in!”

Papa Olaf came in, and stood, surveying both boys. “Greg, if you wish to see something entertaining, go quietly down the stairs to the landing and look in the living room.”

Greg stared at him and then got up, darting out of the room. In a minute he was back, his hand over his mouth, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “Wendy is smiling. Your mother must be a genius!”

Nick snuck out for a look. Greg’s mother was purring like a kitten. “Oh, do you really think so? I’ve always liked it.” She was patting her hair.

“It’s very attractive,” Jillian Stokes affirmed. Luckily Wendy Sanders couldn’t read her expression as well as her son could; he chuckled silently and returned to Greg’s room. He was going to be seeing a lot more of Greg.

tbc

~*~


*Lapskaus: Norwegian dish where you mix whatever you want (often leftovers from earlier dinners): It is usually potato, carrots, kohlrabi (root vegetables..), and beef.

** Søten =Sweet boy

Many thanks to dagsrommer for jumping in and helping with the Norwegian! I don’t know where I’d be without her!