Drabble Table of Doom } 033. Love

In Leviticus, this isn’t condemned. In Deuteronomy, it’s only vaguely condemned. He’s a man, and she’s a woman, and they do love each other very much.

Some would say it’s satanic, that it’s evil, that it’s sinful. Maybe it is, but only because it’s outside wedlock. Maybe it’s time to approach that subject with her yet again.

But first, he needs to remind them both that, regardless of what happens, this is not unforgivable, and it feels too right to be wrong. How could it ever really be wrong, when his heart still flutters and he still can’t help smiling?

100 Fairytales } 062. Keeping Up Appearances

It doesn’t matter how tired a Diamond is, how much a Diamond wishes he could stay in bed, refuse to acknowledge the world, and simply try again tomorrow, or maybe not. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts to think, or to breathe, or to try to sleep, or to eat. Nothing can ever be amiss.

A Diamond must always soldier on, faltering only in private when his poor example cannot be witnessed by anyone else. A Diamond must never let the mask of strength break where it can be seen.

When that Diamond is King, there’s No Breaking Allowed.

100 Fairytales } 097. The Wishing Ring

It’s not enough to think about how hard the road here has been, or how far he still has to walk before he can finally rest. And it certainly isn’t enough to wish that things could be different, that those lost could come back and try again, and guide him on his path.

It’s not really enough to kneel at the foot of his bed in the middle of the night with his head bowed to his Bible, praying for safe passage through life for himself and those he loves, praying for forgiveness, praying for guidance, either.

But it helps.

100 Drabbles of Summer } 44) Sink

With a smile, Silas bathes Arachne. She's too tiny for the bathtub, really, so he's got her supported against his body with his arm around her while he delicately cleans her skin via sink. There's not much fussing, not much squirming, as long as grandpa's got her, and he's grateful for that.

And when she's clean, he wraps her in an Arachne-sized towel to carry her to the bedroom where there is a diaper and onesie waiting.

While he's dressing her for bed, his granddaughter smiles up at him, and it's one of the most beautiful sights he's ever seen.

100 Drabbles of summer } 12) Lazy

It wasn't often that Silas stayed home on Sundays. Wasn't often that Juan Pedro stayed home with him on Sundays, either, but today Silas just wanted to stay in bed with his lover, curled up and pretending to sleep just so that those warm arms would stay secure around his waist.

Of course, pretending was out the window when he felt a nose nuzzle against the back of his neck, and the softest of kisses press to his skin. "Your breathing stopped being so slow many minutes ago, mi amore. It is okay; you don't have to pretend," he chuckled.

100 Drabbles of Summer } 94) Heat

It was just too hot for a full suit. Silas knew it, and so did everyone else, and yet he'd made a valiant attempt, only to sweat through his undershirt and button-down in next to no time. Fortunately, he kept spare clothes in his office, so he could change easily.

Forgetting to change locks is not conducive to not having interesting underwear seen by people in the hallway, which had his hand meeting his face, cheeks red as he squirmed out of the way of the door.

And then there was laughter behind him that he absolutely recognized.

"…Shut up."

100 Drabbles of Summer } 95) Sticky

"Happy birthday," he was told when his eyes cracked open at the smell of bacon and fresh coffee. Was it his birthday? Silas couldn't be sure anymore. He'd lost count of the days, so busy with work lately. There was more paper coming across his desk this quarter than ever before, at least according to his memory.

Must have been his birthday. Icing was being smudged on his nose, and there was syrup on a plate of pancakes that was…on his chest. Damn it.

"JP, that's not fair. Can I just…sleep? Try again tomorrow?"

Juan Pedro laughed. "Sorry, but no."

100 Drabbles of Summer } 87) Pride

Pride was a sin. Silas knew it, but he couldn't help it. The colors and cut of his suit were perfect, and instead of looking like he was aging three years for every three months in office, he just looked…distinguished. He was silvering at the temples, a little, but it didn't look bad. He looked good, and it had his spine straighter and shoulders more squared than they'd been in a while.

He made up for it by being warm rather than sharp, of course, but he couldn't not look at himself when he passed a mirror.

But Pride's sinful.

100 Fairytales } 031. Thank You Three Times

Two days after they met, Silas was invited to Juan Pedro's brother's church. He'd been so in need of confession and absolution and a congregational community, and this…was exactly what he'd needed. He tried to refuse dinner, but Mama Ramos, as she insisted on being called, would hear nothing of it. When he left at long last, Silas bowed his head, thanked each of them, and took his leave.

The day that he returned from London, Silas locked himself in that chapel. It was his sanctuary, quite literally, and he couldn't handle being elsewhere. He had to take twenty-four hours and spend twenty of them in the church, praying and praying and praying some more, confessing for sins he wasn't sure he'd committed. Isaac was too young to be gone. He couldn't accept it. But when his twenty-four hours were over, he thanked them both and took his leave.

Every day was thanks to the family who'd saved his eternal soul, and Silas could never forget it. He didn't say it enough, but he wouldn't ever forget. He buys dinner and drinks water rather than wine because he doesn't trust himself with the alcohol, and, as always, he gives thanks.

100 Fairytales } 021. Beloved of Women

It will never cease to amaze Silas how many women gravitate toward a man once they know he's uninterested in their genital persuasion. It's as though, by being gay, he's less dangerous, less of a threat, less capable of inflicting harm.

Of course, all of those things are true of him, but his sexual preference isn't the root of it. And yet, he still hears talk of him being a "lady killer," and on the rare occasion, "it's a pity he's only interested in men."

Some things will never make sense; women's infatuation with gay men is one of them.

100 Drabbles of Summer } 80) Salt Water Taffy

Aeronwy would never be in one of his classes, but that was okay. When there was a field trip, he always brought something back for her, anyway. This time, he’d been an additional chaperone for the Senior sociology classes’ trip to the fair.

He smiled fondly at the small box of candies in his hands, momentarily recalling the first time she had ever encountered the sticky sweets. She’d made a proper mess of herself, safely in Silas’ care. He’d cleaned her up, tenderly dressed her latest severe injuries, and kissed every bruise he found.

She was his angel. His gift.