robby and jack feeding dennis is something I will never stop thinking about. you know, they're so delighted to have found a beautiful and kind young man that they both adore to add permenantly to their relationship, and they just want to make sure he's taken care of. that he's safe and healthy.
they know his past. they know he spent upwards of a year homeless, and they know that he was having to snatch food from the hospital to stay fed- that frequently one or two swiped sandwiches was all he was able to have a day. their precious dennis was malnourished and had food insecurity that had him hiding away canned food where he thought his boyfriends didn't notice, "just in case". it broke their hearts.
they start actively hand feeding him, as opposed to just presenting him with large platefuls at dinner time, when they realise dennis means something entirely different to them when he says he's "full". to jack and robby, being full means you're content, and that your belly genuinely can't hold any more food. that you'll be happy and fuelled sufficiently until the next mealtime- you're sated.
to dennis, being "full" means that he's eaten enough that he'll be able to get to the next mealtime without doubling over from hunger pangs. if it's dinner, he considers himself full if he can make it through the night asleep and not be woken early by the growling of an empty belly. "full" for dennis is actively hungry for jack and robby.
they realise dennis has got his routine honed to cause him to be able to consume as little food as possible (so that he might save as much as he can in case he can't get more), while still functioning. they're so angry at the world and system that forced their dennis into this place that they're nearly drawn to tears, not that they let their boy see.
thus, the hand feeding. they settle him in robby's lap, back to chest, and robby crosses his arms over the youngers belly, slipping them under dennis's shirt in a way that makes him giggle a little at the touch. jack is the one sat next to them on the sofa with a large plate of pasta and tomato and vegetables- a *normal* sized dinner for an adult man.
dennis finds himself opening and closing his mouth on command as the loaded fork is lifted to his mouth, luxuriating in the feeling of robby's big hands smoothing across his tummy as he eats, and the way jack looks at him with such affection in his eyes. the warm food makes him sleepy, and he relaxes. soon though, he recognises the point at which he'll be able to sleep through the night without hunger, and he states he's full.
his boyfriends don't agree. they tell him that they can hear his stomach rumbling at night, that he's repeatedly not eating enough and they're worried. robby begs him gently to let them keep feeding him until he's *really* full, and he swallows nervously thinking of how much longer the pasta could've lasted, but he agrees. he's rewarded by a kiss to the neck and another mouthful of warm, comforting food.
the guilt over "wasting" food continues for a little while longer, but now he's getting sleepier and sleepier as he's actually consuming the right amount for the first time in years. the hands on his belly feel even better now, and he slumps in robby's arms as he pets at him. the food makes him feel warm and makes his brain calm down, thoughts slowing until all he felt was genuine fullness, and overwhelming love for the two men doting on him.
he doesn't even notice when he's cleared the entire plate, just that it's the first time he can remember where he hasn't yearned for a single bite more- he's exactly, perfectly full. he's also half asleep, eyes fluttering as he's a dead weight on robby, who's still rubbing and massaging his slightly distended tummy.
he can hear two voices praising him and feels a new set of hands join the ones already on his belly, and more kisses into his hair. his stomach doesn't growl or rumble at all as he falls asleep in jack and robby's arms, utterly content.
the two older men could've cheered and jumped for joy at the sight of their boy finally, finally full, but they settled for a soft kiss and admiring glances so as not to disturb him. this would not be a one time thing, not when it looked like it would so perfectly improve their dennis's health.
to absolutely nobodies surprise, dennis in bundled into robby's lap again the next night as jack approaches from the kitchen with a meaty curry. one day, hopefully soon, dennis's definition of full will match that of his boyfriends'.
