This next new chapter with Chad and Tristan involves hurt/comfort and of course a lot of sneezes. 🥰
Chad and Tristan – Part 13
‘Baby where are you??’ Tristan shouted, too lazy to check for Chad’s actual whereabouts in the house.
As Tristan walked in, Chad sat at the desk, eyes fixed on the computer screen.
‘I just got a text from Wade.’ He informed with a quick glance at the screen of his phone.
Chad spun around in the chair to face Tristan properly. ‘Oh? And what did he have to say?’
‘He wants me over at his house and I uh… I guess he wants to talk to me about something.’
‘Really..?’ Holding back an impression of displeasure, Chad started to twirl some strands of the dark hair between the fingers. ‘…about what?’
With the contemplating look on his face, Chad decided to stay quiet.
‘So what do you think?’ Tristan crossed his arms. ‘You think I should go over there and see what he wants? I mean, the last time I checked in on him it didn’t go too well.’
‘I don’t know… your brother can be-’
‘I wasn’t going to say that but…. He can be a little difficult to tell the truth.’ Chad stood.
‘That I agree with. Shit I don’t know what to do.’ Tristan took off his black cap from his head and ran a stressed hand through the hair.
‘I can come with you.’ The words were spoken softly but with a hopeful undertone. ‘I mean, if you decide you’re going.’
‘You sure? There’s really not a problem.’
‘Who knows for how long I’ll stay. It’s better if you stay at home and finish whatever project you’re working on.’
‘Alright. Although work isn’t due until…’ His voice trailed off. ‘…uhm yea okay.’
‘Can I get you anything?’
Wade offered nervously which was out character and it only added confusion to Tristan’s tensed sentiments.
They seated on the sofa and Tristan found a spot by widening his legs comfortably. ‘So. What did you want to talk to me about?’
Friendly taps of paws met the floor and the sound came closer, just as Ham jumped on the couch and greeted Tristan with licking kisses.
‘Hey you.’ Tristan chuckled, patting and cuddling with the dog.
‘He really likes you.’ Wade said with a smile.
‘You should consider getting a puppy. Or adopt one, even.’ Wade suggested.
‘Chad’s got allergies.’ Tristan stated as the dog jumped off and found a spot near his feet.
‘I know but he could get a shot for that or something.’
‘Yea. Maybe.’ Tristan cleared his throat, avoiding further inquiries about Chad’s health issues.
‘….so uhm.’ Wade started. ‘You know since my wife got pregnant-‘
‘Yea congrats on that by the way.’ Reaching out, Tristan and Wade bumped fists. ‘Do you guys know if it’s a boy or girl?’
‘Not yet.’ Wade expressed proudly. ‘Anyway, what I wanted to say is that… I’ve been thinking a lot about dad and how he treated us growing up… you especially.’
‘Uh… okay?’ Tristan shifted and sat up straight. ‘Waste of time, I say.’ His right leg started shaking and his fingers nervously drummed onto the thigh.
‘….uh I know I’ve never said this before, so I just wanna let you know that I think it’s very unfair what he did to you. To all of us. I was only a little kid but it was clear to me that he was beating you up regularly.’
Tristan blinked. Uncomfortable and rushed by the need for a desperate escape. ‘Yea?’ He licked his lips.
‘…yea and uh, now that I’ll soon be a dad myself I understand I need to shape up and get myself in order and I know what kind of father I want to become to own kid. And the first step is to recognize all of dad’s faults and be nothing like him...’
‘...right.’ Tristan throat felt dry and he swallowed.
‘I’ve just been giving it a lot of thought and it brought back a lot of shitty memories.’
The conversation was spiraling into a dialogue Tristan wasn’t ready nor prepared for.
‘…and I understand now the hell he really put you through.’ Wade continued while Tristan broke into a sweat. He was close to hyperventilating.
‘Fuck.’ Unable to sit still any longer, Tristan rushed from the couch.
‘So you’ve finally got yourself some self-awareness. Great. Just great. But what am I supposed to do with that information huh?’ He was close to tears and he hated how his voice trembled, failing him and crumbling. ‘I’ve been trying to put all that shit behind me! You can’t just invite me over to your house and force me to talk about this shit, just because you had a moment of enlightenment!’
‘I’m not forcing you to do anything. I just wanted to let you know what I’m dealing with. I know I’ve been acting kind of shitty around you too, with Chad and all. But that’s all going to change now.’
‘So you finally decided to become a brother, huh?’ It came out sarcastically. It wasn’t intentional but Tristan guarded himself efficiently.
‘If you wanna go there, sure.’
‘Fuck it…’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘…thanks for letting me know, I guess. I should head back, I can’t deal with this right now.’ He sniffled, heading for the door. ‘We’ll talk.’
‘You know where to find me.’
He put the key to the house and waited a moment before unlocking it. Unsettled and shaken by the conversation with Wade, he pondered if he should have gone for a run before going indoors. Too late now anyway, he thought and headed in.
The warm, caring voice welcomed him home as soon as he entered. It immediately released some of the tight knots inside his chest.
‘Hey.’ He looked down, avoiding any contact that’d burst the bubble that he’d tried so hard to gain control over.
A gentle touch met his arm, beckoning for a hug which he followed through. He swallowed sharply and blinked as tears welled up within his eyes.
‘…is Wade okay? …how did everything go?’
They slipped out of the embrace and Chad fidgeted with his fingers at Tristan’s sweater, not ready to let go.
Ignoring the sweet attempt for closeness, Tristan moved, heading for the kitchen and Chad tagged along.
‘…are you really okay..?’ Chad’s voice expressed concerned. Looking over, Tristan noticed that he also kept a knuckle pressed against the left side of the nostril at his beautiful nose.
‘Yea. Fine. Fuck I’m thirsty.’
‘We got… soda.’ He sniffed quietly. ‘Water. Juice?’
Opening the refrigerator, Tristan grabbed a bottle of Coke, when Chad all of sudden drew in several quick breaths.
‘…uh’Gischo!!!-Eschh!!!- hhhh…. hggn’gnnisch!!!’oh… excuse me.’
‘Thank you. I apologize.’ He rubbed one finger over the nose in a rapid and urgent manner. ‘Please tell me. What did Wade say?’
‘Not much.’ Tristan had another sip from the bottle. ‘Personal issues. Bunch of stuff about dad.’
‘What…’ Chad appeared startled with his eyes narrowing. ‘…ugh goodness.’ He gently turned and covered his mouth with both hands. ‘….eh’gGnxh!!-hh’Gnnsch!!-gGnxtsch!!!-hh’Ktsch!!!-T’sch!!! …uh’hhhh’GhhiSCH!!!!’schoo…. heavens. So sorry about that.’ He sniffled with a look of frustration capturing his face. ‘….what did Wade… ugh….’ Sniffling again, he rubbed sternly at his nose. ‘…sorry, what did he say about your dad?’
‘Just random bullshit that Wade’s figuring it on his own since becoming a dad apparently.’ He placed the bottle onto the surface and the sound revealed just how stressed he really was. ‘And wants me to be the wall that he can bounce back his shit on but I ain’t-‘
‘G’schhh!!!-giiischo!!!-tsx’sch!-hht’xschhh!!-hhkk’txsch!!! ….hhhh… uh’kNxuSCH!!!’uugnh …goodness so sorry, the sneezes are really persis… hhh, hhh… gghhu’iiischo!!!’ He lashed forward into a cupped hand.
The question was asked out of genuine concern, but the alluring image made it hard for Tristan to stay focused.
‘…it’s just my nose, I’m fine.’ Chad brushed it off quickly, eager to carry on. ‘I didn’t know. Wade is becoming a father?’ While he spoke, he’d ripped off several sheets of paper that he now wiped and brushed over the vulnerable nose.
‘Yea. As far as I can tell he’s rebuilding his whole character and lifestyle based around that.’ Tristan replied quite bitterly while giving a scratch at the stubble at his chin. ‘…or so he says.’ His eyes wandered back to the rounded nostrils at Chad’s pink nose which kept flaring with each wet and passing sniffle.
‘That’s wonderful news though, I mean, fatherhood.’ He said reflectively whilst the soft material dabbed beneath the nose. ‘…so what did he say about your dad?’
‘Just a bunch of stuff from when were kids. There’s really not much to talk about.’
Tristan was about to walk away again but was stopped when Chad carefully grasped his arm.
‘Hey… please talk to me.’ He sniffled and Tristan fought hard to ignore the clear and widening flare at the tender nostrils. ‘I’m right here.’
Chad’s lips parted, as if to say something more, but instead he relentlessly suppressed a fit of sneezes into the tissue.
‘Thank you…’ The paper massaged over the nose. ‘I’d really wish for you to open up to me. …please don’t shut me out.’ The touch at his arm traveled down at his hand as Chad looked at him with the deep blue eyes.
Tristan’s gaze flickered. He felt his throat tightening and he instantly felt like fleeing.
‘I just… give me some time to collect myself.’ Slipping out from the tenderness, Tristan went to sit by the couch. Chad respected Tristan’s personal space and sat down next to him in the armchair.
They sat in silence. Unable to pull himself together, Tristan wiped away some tears that’d already began to fall from his eyes.
‘Perhaps…’ Chad began, still using the paper as a protection for the quivering nostrils. ‘…you should reconsider and talk to your father about this. What he did to you and how it still affects your everyday life. Maybe he’ll understand?’
An initiating contact met Tristan’s knee.
‘No.’ Glancing in Chad’s direction with a grateful expression, Tristan shook his head, sniffling. ‘Impossible.’
He was given some soft tissues when Chad seated right next to him.
‘It’ll be okay…’ He spoke quietly but sniffled far too timidly. The faint sniffles proven useless from the runny nose he struggled with.
‘I just don’t… want to dwell on it. It’s in the past, right?’ Tristan explained with an agitated sadness. ‘I don’t see the point for me to bring up a shitload of painful memories. So what if my own dad punched me in the face,’ the misty eyes turned into tears and rolled down his cheeks. ‘…and what is talking about it gonna do for me, now?’ His voice trembled and Chad responded affectionately, caressing and removing the drops, one by one.
‘I understand.’ He said compassionately, then kissed the tender spot gently. ‘…but if you ever feel the need to share it with someone, I’m here. Always.’
Sweet caresses met Tristan's cheek, then back at his neck. The doting touches calmed him further.
‘I just wish that people around me would stop reminding me about it.’ He put the papers over his nose and blew it harshly.
‘Did you ever tell Wade that the topic made you feel uncomfortable?’
‘Sort of.’ Tristan sniffled again thickly, frustrated that it was leading into congestion.
‘He should have… respected…’ Chad paused with a blank look. His lower lip dropped slightly, and Tristan observed the tender nostrils flaring firmly. ‘…he should have, hhhhh… respected you.’ Chad finished the sentence with an evident quiver.
‘Respect?’ Tristan scoffed. ‘He doesn’t know a fucking shit about-‘
‘uh’hht’sch!!-hhgnsch!!!-gGsch!!!-nnGnhh!!!’uh…. heavens-hhhh… uh’k’tsch!!’ohhhh... ugh, hhh..... gxxsch!!!!’uh-ha’Guscho!!!-nGnnxxh!!’ughhh…’
‘Damn…’ Tristan expressed quite amazed, perplexed by the sudden and striking attack. ‘…bless you gorgeous. Are you okay?’
‘…ugh, something is….hhhhh… uh’Gnnngh!!!’uhh… itching inside my nose, I-hhhhh’eh’GNNXtsch!!!!’uhhh… goodness. I have to-‘ Chad rapidly got up from the couch, rubbing at his nose and stifled another set of sneezes into the protection of his folded hands. ‘…I’m sorry,’ He sniffled with a strained and helpless manner. ‘I have to sneeze these out or else I’ll… hhh-hhhh-’ He backed away and turned away from Tristan entirely. ‘…hhhh… eh gescho!!-escho!!-EISCH’gnh!!’EIiiSCH’hgnxx!! …ASCHEschew!!-uh’ESCH’sche!!!’ASCH’schi!!... hhhhh… wuh’RASCHschew!!!’
‘Baby what’s the matter with you today?’ Tristan had already gone to Chad for support and he held him close with his arm wrapped around his waist. ‘You’ve been sneezing literally non-stop ever since I-‘
‘g’sch!!-uh’gisxch!!-uh’Gaschgnx!!! …so sorry, please forgivhhhh’ugh-, …uh’ghASCHschew!!!…ugh, I don’t know why I’m sneezing so much.’ The damp tissue was moved all over the sensitive nostrils.
‘Perhaps... I mean.’ Clearing his throat, Tristan felt a little guilty all of a sudden. ‘Wade’s got a dog, you know, Ham?’
‘Ohh.’ Chad raised his brows, using the paper and covering his nose.
‘Yea so maybe I should go change…’
‘…it’s okay.’ Chad giggled half heartily which slowly faded as another build up took over and changed his facial expression. ‘…hguh’ischo!!! …hhh, hhh… hh’K’ngx!!!’hh’kNx!!!’k’hNGx!!! uh, hhhh …uh’WRASCH!!!’scheooo… oh.’ He doubled over into the soggy paper. '...hhh... WRUSCHschioo!!!!' Tears were running down his cheeks but he made no effort to remove them. ‘…’scuse me the sneezes are getting so hard to contain.’ He instead uttered quietly.
‘Gorgeous, bless you.’ Tristan pressed his lips at the moist cheek. ‘Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should take some meds.’
‘Thank you… I’ll be fine.’ The tissue dabbed over the cheeks, then over the small reddened nose, covering it but without the attempt to blow it.
‘I’ll go remove these dog infected clothes.’ Kissing the spot once more, Tristan then left Chad standing in the living room.