Free was staring the clock on the wall. It's quarter past two, almost the time the owner of this household would be coming back from work. If there wasn't nothing particular going on, Don will be here at any minute now.
This was Frees fourth week in, first week living as 'Free Palenne'. And the more he was spending time with his so called 'guardian' the more Free has started to notice mans odd habits. No, coming back at the same time everyday was not so strange. That was just expected. That could be very normal. But everything else was more like unusual, at least from Frees perspective. Taking his interest.
The sound of an opening door. Don gets in, loses his shoes while hanging his jacket on the rack and walks in the kitchen area, eyes locked on the young man who was intently staring back at him.
"Welcome back," Free calls, planning to put his next mission on. Sum all what he has noticed till now. What kind of person this cop really was?
Don stops next to Free, without saying a word yet. Until man shows a smile and finally puts his bag on the table, next to Frees laptop. He hums back and pets young mans head, which was usually the first thing man did after coming back form out. "I have still some work to do. We will have dinner later. Are you fine with that?"
"I will manage," younger answers, not dropping his eyes. Man shouldn't be so hard to read, since he always seem to be very straight with his words and actions. But just when you thought you would get something out of him, man could act like he has never said or done anything. Being so calm and open. And still so charged and closed. Everything in him seem fake.
Free wasn't so sure how to explain it any better. Like, after he turn himself in, people he met in his hearings all clearly respect Don and willingly let the man be in charge. No one seem to question him, they just okay with him, just like that. At work, he gave that alpha vibe. Afterward thinking, the speed of the process someone like Free being able to have a rightful identity was incredible fast. Sure, he was impatient before, but, really, when Free think about it more, he got his so called life-card freaking quickly. So, yes, man was a big name there. Has power.
Sure, Don was a law officer, but like against all the expectations man didn't hesitate to act behind his co-workers. He was even prepared to help his own suspect run. Was that what man meant when calling himself 'the worst big guy'? All in all Don wasn't so obedient. Played outside the rules as he wish. Not giving that normal 'police' act out what Free has used to see from other law officers. Don was different. Had his own way to do things. Must be because he was incredible selfish..
Related to that was the fact you really couldn't start an argument with this guy. You would always lose. Free has tried it before. Multiple times. When he was feeling annoyed and tried to figure out what he should do after the incident in the Main House, simple, Free really just took his frustration out on Don. And man himself took it all calmly. Didn't shake a bit. But more like he let Free bark and in the end made him sit down and go calmly through why young man was feeling so pissed off. No wonder man could act so confident and selfish, usually he was right anyway. This guy didn't let his feelings take the best of him.
"Let's take care of your back first," Don suggests and moves toward the closet where he kept their medical items in. "We are changing the treatment today." The way man was treating Free has always been extremely gently. Was it about checking his wounds or simple asking how he was feeling, Dons whole essence seem to be only focused on him. He was always paying attention on him. Always listening.
How you couldn't let that affect you? They clearly had a thing going on here. And still this fucker avoid going more intimate as much as possible. Even if man himself basically offered to make Free feel good when he would so want. Words didn't match with his later actions. Man has zero interest of doing any kind of horizontal mambo. But..
It wasn't that Don wasn't into him. Wouldn't do so again. Hell no! What happened a week ago couldn't be more clearer. But more like man didn't show any kind of intention to approach him. Should Free be the one making the move first? He probably should. Go straight to the point and jump on him, like he did before.
But damn, remembering the last time made it generally very difficult Free to act. That episode was something really else. A little bit too much..
"What are you thinking?" Don places his hand on Frees head, smilingly eyeing the younger man who was clearly still looking at him in thoughts, spacing out. Not even trying to hide his staring.
"Nothing," Free just says back quietly, not lowing his eyes.
"Nothing?" man repeats doubting and makes Free turn around, forcing him finally move his eyes away. "Raise your hands." Free does. Don helps him take his shirt off and after neatly folding it he puts it on the table, moves a chair for himself closer and sits down. "Haven't you been staring at me this whole time? Did I do something? Did you?" man asks smiling. Free could feel the cold lotion been spread on his back skin. The same time the touch from Dons fingertips send a warm wave through his body, him getting goose bumps.
Blushing a little, Free tsihs and made sure to keep his face away from Don to see. 'Hell yeah you did! Because of you I can't act calm!' was what he was thinking, but definitely let it unsaid out loud. Damn, this was all this guys fault. "It's nothing.."
Don hums and spreads the rest of the lotion on the rest of the back. Seeing how Free was now suddenly avoiding to look toward him made it very easy to read what he was probably thinking, unintentionally showing out this very honest, unusual behavior. Kid wasn't feeling depressed, right? Was he suddenly nervous because of what they did the other day? Or was he actually scared of Don now? Being alert around him? "Turn," man says next. Since Don usually check the wound on his deltoid muscle next, Free turns and shows his left arm toward him. Instead of looking the shoulder, man looks straight to Frees eyes, clearly checking his mood. Young man was calmly staring back, waiting.
Since man wasn't doing anything, Free tsihs and leans his face closer. "I said it's nothing," he clears smiling. Man could be irritatingly sharp.
"You sure?" Don shows a smile back. But since young man was acting normal, that was enough to calm his mind. At least kid hasn't grown to scare of him or anything. Maybe he was just thinking something pointless again. "If something bothers you, please let me know. If it really is not anything serious, then it's fine. Just don't make me worry. That I can't stand."
When Don finally turns his focus on Frees shoulder, young man lets himself relax again. Yeah, this guy seriously cares of his wellbeing. Even when it didn't really make so much sense. It might be like Maron has said. Don live for his work. So if a workaholic like him was willingly spending most of his time with Free in here rather than actually working, Free definitely has the hold on Don. But why exactly?
It wasn't his body this guy want. Don once even said he didn't care about how he looked. Come on! He has a face of an angel! Who wouldn't care!? That was one of the weirdest thing about this guy. He has never ever admired about Frees looks. Not commented it how so ever.
So with that Free has become to the conclusion maybe Don really think of him as a pet? Sure, bring it on! If that's all it takes to have a place here, then Free has nothing to complain. He should just play along.
Well, it wasn't just Dons personality what was very different compared to people Free has met or heard of, or seen in TV. Dons apartment tells a lot about its owner. Or leaves just more guestions.
Their apartment indeed has everything they need. But really nothing more. Literally. It wasn't that Free would need a carpet on the kitchen floor, but normally, yes, normally, people would have one on the floor. But not Don. This man doesn't own anything he doesn't see useful or necessary.
Was it six years or so, the time Don said he's been living here. Free had his own room in the Main House over three years and during that time even his room was full of useless stuff. Not that this clean and clear apartment didn't feel cozy to him. But it was very impersonal. No prints on walls. No decoration items.. Really, did Don actually just live in his work building more than here before Free moved in?
"It's nothing, but..," Free suddenly says then out loud while leaning his right arm on the back of his chair, staring toward the living room, realizing they at least had some resting pillows and blankets there. But even those items were more like useful rather than there for the eye. "Why you have no carpets here?"
Don has turned his eyes toward Frees face, smiling. "I think I found it annoying to choose so I gave up before getting any," he answers right off, like already being used to hearing that guestion.
And that fast respond surprised Free who carefully glances him wondering. "That's your reason?"
"Yes. That's my reason," Don confirms. "That was what bothered you?"
"No. Just asking.."
The last cleaning wipe and Don was done, releasing Frees arm and standing up. "It's your apartment now too. If you want carpets, then we can get some," he clears smiling while moving away the cleaning items. "I can try tolerate your choices. And if I can't, I will just get rid of them right away. Good luck."
Free crys inside his mind. Sometimes Dons words didn't make any sense to him. Can they get carpets or not? They can if Don likes them? No, this was really not about the carpets. But the reason why Don didn't have any. So man couldn't choose one and never got one? Great. He should move on. "Why you have beers in but you never drink?"
Now that question came out of nowhere. Don turns his focus back on Free, actually showing very honestly how surprised he was. But that didn't last long. Man moves across the table and shows his usual gently smile. "It's a habit."
Of course it was a habit. One of his weird ones. Ever sense Don brought beers back in, Free had drink some when ever he felt so. And every time he took a beer or two, the next day Don had brough one or two more as replace. "Habit to always have beers in the fridge?" younger smirks.
"Habit to always have beers in the fridge," Don repeats, confirming. Now he didn't mind seeing this young man being so curious about him. Usually they talk about work related necessaries and what kid should learn from now on. Free being suddenly so interest of something like this felt quite amusing to Don. What was the goal? There really were times Don find this kid be very unpredictable. And that was one of the things what has taken his interest. "Anything else?"
Free didn't plan to be this nosy, but since Don wasn't questioning his questioning, a perfect opportunity to clarify things what has bothered him has come. Not that Free couldn't act straight and just ask in the first place. But he just hadn't found a right time to bring it out. "Why you carry smokes with you when you don't even smoke?" Just like with beers, Free was the one who smoke Dons cigarettes. Man was never out of them.
Kid was very sharp. Paying attention of these little details. No doubt he would be natural in their field. "It helps me calm my nerves when needed," Don answers honestly. "I used to smoke all the time, but grow out from that habit. I get addicted easily so I had to drop the nicotine use to the minimum."
Then the silence. First it felt like there would be some interesting secrets behind those habits, but mans aswers were very simple and boring. Did Free get excited for nothing?! "Okay. That I can buy..," he sighs and takes his shirt.
"Was that all?"
"Yes. The rest I will figure out myself. I was just.. curious because those things felt.. weird," young man clears and gets up, puts his shirt back on. Well, he was very curious about what Taro said before too. But couldn't really bring it out just like that. First of all did Free even have the right to ask about something what has nothing to do with the present. Taro told him to forget about it too. It was a slip, something Taro wasn't supposed to talk about. And something Free wasn't supposed to hear from.
"Sure. I do not mind answering your guestions later too," Don points out. There was clearly something on Frees mind if he was now trying to analyse Don like this. But this curiosity only makes everything easier between them. "It's actually necessary if we plan to live together from now on. You to know me better. I am not easy to live with."
Not easy to live with? This guy has made it very easy Free to live here. How it could not be easy? What man was even talking about?
Smiling to youngers puzzled look, Don keeps. "I will make capsule coffee. You want some?" he asks and turns his back to Free, who answers with a short hum. "After I have finished my work for the day, we will head to the store. Figure out what you want to eat until that."
"Everything is fine," Free just boredly points out, leaning on the table behind him.
"I know," Don keeps right after Frees words. "But if you always settle for my selections, yours will become trivial. Make sure your opinions get heard. You can oppose me as much as you want. I will let you know where I draw the line."
More of these nonsenses. Wasn't it the opposite what Don really meant? How you even could argue against this guys opinions? Either guy has a better point or refuses to go with yours. "I really really can't read you sometimes," Free sighs out, eyeing Dons back.
"I'm just reminding you to be as cocky as you always are. Don't lose against me," Don smirks and turns the coffee maker on. Not long and the first cup was full. When he turns around, their eyes met. "With me you need your attitude," man hands the cup of latte to the younger.
Free takes his drink. Sure. Like his cocky personality would fade away anyway. He should just keep pushing until he was the one bossing Don around. "I don't need any remindings. I know I'm awesome," young man tsihs and heads to the living area with his latte. This pet didn't want to bother himself with all this nonsense right now. Just drink his hot latte and watch some TV, under his warm blanket. "I want pizza. Let's order it so you don't need to make it. And this place lacks of some colors.
If we ever get a carpet, it's better be huge and colorful."