Opossum Twenty-Six

He wasn't sure what to do with himself.

Within an hour they had both showered and eaten, and after a quick drive downtown, they entered a tuxedo and suit shop that looked like a foreign land to him. The prices were easily double what he could even pretend to afford, but that didn't seem to deter Grim in the least. The guy piled his arms full of items, then followed him into their largest changing room to not waste time with him opening and closing the door to have them checked.

The lady who was assisting them blushed nearly the entire time, but Ian was too busy with his own racing heart and shaky fingers to pay her the slightest mind. He might have been able to change easily if Grim stopped grabbing him everywhere, adjusting the clothing from top to bottom as he considered each set critically.

By the time Grim finally chose a dark maroon suit for him, Ian was just about at his limit. He gently but firmly nudged Grim from the dressing room once his choice had been made, then closed and latched the door before the protests could begin.

Thankfully, Grim just grumbled a few confused words before walking off to go find himself something to wear. That gave Ian enough time to calm down, then change, before opening the door about five minutes later.

He handed the suit Grim said to get to the assistant who'd been waiting on them, then hurried off to find him... only to realize that Grim had already grabbed a few things for himself and was now locked behind a changing room door a few rows down.

I want to be upset that I can't watch him change, but it's probably for the best.

He didn't need to embarrass himself after he'd already needed a few minutes to cool down.

Deciding to play it cool, he sat in one of the nice chairs outside the changing rooms and pulled out his phone. There was a text waiting for him, and when he opened it, he was surprised to see that it was from the officer in charge of the little boy's case from a while ago.

His mom is doing well in her rehab and he's started school again.

The boy was a little behind after having left months earlier to try and help his ailing mother, but Ian could tell that he was a smart young man. He'd catch up in no time.

Spending a few moments, he replied with a smile on his own face, then sent the message right as Grim stepped out of the dressing room. That drew his attention immediately away from his phone as it was tucked back into his pocket and allowed his eyes to lift to the man of his dreams.

Then he deflated the slightest bit.

"Don't be sad, babe. You'll see me in it soon enough," Grim said as he handed a midnight blue suit to their assistant, then headed for the counter after swiping matching ties from a stand nearby.

But I want to see it now...

Biting back his frustration, since he really had no right to be upset, Ian followed behind Grim quietly and took the items once they were paid for so that Grim could have his hands free.

Once they were settled back in the car with their suits wrapped in plastic in the back, Grim got them heading toward his father's mansion, where the gathering was going to be.

"We'll just come in the back entrance and get changed. I don't want to deal with walking through the front in case some people are there early."

They weren't dressed badly, by a long shot, but that definitely made sense after hearing a bit about his parents. He didn't want to bother pissing his dad off for arriving in jeans and a sweater to a formal event.

Unfortunately, the drive didn't take long enough for Ian to calm his nerves, so he was surprisingly quiet as they grabbed their suits and slipped in the back of the mansion that could have easily fit ten of Grim's houses inside it, and then some.

Grim's old bedroom was right up the stairs from the back entrance, making it easy to slip in without being spotted. When they shut the massive double doors to his room and Ian actually saw it for the first time, however, he couldn't help but have reality crash down around him.

I... I've been simping for a guy, thinking that I could give him something he doesn't already have, when his bedroom is bigger than my entire previous apartment.

His entire world just seemed to deflate.

What good am I compared to this?

"Babe? Come get changed," Grim called, snapping Ian out of his disorienting daze.

He gave his head a quick shake, then hurried forward. Even if his mind was spiraling, his body still knew exactly what to do.

Listen to Grim.

He obediently stripped out of his clothing and allowed Grim to help him dress until the man was perfectly content with how he looked. That's when Grim began to strip and Ian's eyes glued themselves to his every move.

He didn't snap out of it until the man was completely clothed again.

"Don't worry babe, you can help me take it off later," Grim said teasingly as he finally stepped forward and patted Ian's clothed chest.

I want to.

He shouldn't, because he really didn't feel like he had anything he could possibly offer after seeing what Grim had grown up with, but he swallowed down his stress and forced a smile.

Except, Grim immediately reached up and grabbed his jaw, squeezing the smile right off his face.

"None of that. What's wrong? Do you not want to go out? You can stay here if you'd like," Grim offered right away, making Ian's heart constrict in his chest.

He wanted to go out. He wanted to stand at Grim's side and protect him from whatever stresses he knew were coming with this event, but did he have a right to?

Before he could figure out what to say, Grim was leaning up, pressing their lips together.

It was a rare, calm kiss, with neither of them trying to turn it into something more.

When they finally disconnected, Grim gave his nose the slightest lick, then grinned up at him.

"What would you like to do, babe?"

Ian had no trouble answering this time.

"I want to be with you."

And he meant it. Completely and wholeheartedly. Not just for the party or as a roommate, but for life.

Grim nodded and took his arm in his, then led him to the door before they both opened one side and stepped through.

Two long hallways and four minutes of walking later and they finally slowed to a stop at the top of a massive winding staircase. Below them was a bustling gala with people dressed to the T and wearing more jewelry than what could fit in an entire store.

Before he could begin to have a panic attack, Grim tugged him closer and put his free hand on his arm where his own was still locked around it.

"Let's get this over with," Grim said as they began to walk down the staircase, attracting more and more attention as they descended.

Ian forced himself to stand straight and keep his head held high, just like Grim was doing. He somehow managed to keep his wits about him and as they finally took their last step down to the main floor. Grim's father immediately met them there with a strained smile.

The man's judging eyes didn't hesitate to narrow on him after briefly acknowledging his son.

"Who is your friend, Chester?"

The venom was quite noticeable in his words.

"He's my boyfriend. I'd like you to meet Ian," Grim said as he grinned up at him at the same time a young woman dressed in a dazzling emerald green dress walked up to them.

Oh wow.

"Good afternoon, Chester, who is your friend?"

Grim turned his attention to the woman, his smile remaining a bright beam of light.

"Hi Mary, this is Ian, my boyfriend."

His father's scowl darkened as he turned his attention to Ian once more.

"Where did you graduate college? What was your GPA? Where do you work and who are your parents?"

What... am I supposed to say to that?

He never even graduated high school, though his test for his GED was next week. He also worked at a warehouse, and as far as his parents went...

This was a really bad idea.

"He's finishing his GED next week and has been my best student by a long shot this year," Grim said as he patted Ian's arm where a good bit of muscle was clearly obvious beneath the cloth of the suit.

"His... GED? You can't be serious?" his father said at the same time Mary chuckled a little behind one bejeweled hand.

"He's a real cutie, and I can definitely see the muscles. You did a great job working with him, Chester."

Ignoring his father's continued stuttering, Grim smiled at Mary.

"Thank you, he's a great student."

Now his father stepped back into the conversation with a loud scoff.

"Student? He clearly wasn't since he couldn't even get through high school!"

Ian felt his face warm but had nothing he could really say in response. He hadn't been a good student. He hadn't been able to sit through half the classes without getting distracted or getting in trouble. His mind had struggled to focus when he was younger and even now, after several more years, he still needed Grim's help to keep focused on his work sometimes.

"Not everyone learns the same way. He's extremely smart and is the leading playing in the game I'm employed with right now. He's also going to ace his GED exam next week," Grim replied without missing a beat.

Ian stared at him, awestruck and honestly feeling a bit undeserving of such praise.

His father made a face but quickly covered up the expression so that those gathered nearby couldn't read how toxic the situation really was.

"You still play that worthless game?" he spat out, clearly not a fan of it.

Grim smirked and unwrapped his arm from Ian's, only to move it around his waist and pull him closer.

"I made seven thousand from it last night and my amazing boyfriend just recently signed a live camera contract and got his first big check for eight two days ago."

His father and Mary both looked at each other, clearly a little stunned by the amount of money.

"I've put away half of mine already and I'll be discussing good stock and savings options with him when we get home, but if you have any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them," Grim said smoothly, his beaming smile calming down a bit as his father's attitude seemed to simmer down a bit.

Ian blinked in shock as Grim's father actually looked between them without displeasure then, shockingly, he gestured for them both to follow him as he began walking over to one of the fancy tables set up around the perimeter of a calm dance floor.

The moment they sat down food was brought over and quickly filled up the table, but Grim's father clearly wasn't interested in much of it. He took a sip of red wine then immediately launched into which stocks were doing well and which ones were currently down but likely to flare back to life depending on how a few situations played out.

He seemed to know just about all of the possible risks and rewards for each high-ranking stock and even listed several good saving accounts where he could let his money sit at five percent growth until he decided what he wanted to do, too.

Ian did his best to pay attention to everything and even requested a few pieces of paper so that he could write down some notes. Grim's dad seemed a little put-off by that, but he soon realized that he really was being taken seriously, because Ian was quickly filling the pages one after the other.

It actually got to the point where Ian was talking directly with the man while Grim spoke with Mary, having switched seats with him.

By the time Grim's father left the table to go socialize with his growing crowds of guests Ian felt like steam was coming out of his ears and he'd filled up at least five full pieces of paper, front and back, with notes about the stock market and different savings account options.

The pat that soon found its way to his head immediately calmed his warmed face, though, as Grim turned his attention back to him with a surprisingly-relaxed grin.

Mary doesn't look too happy with me taking his attention back so abruptly, but do I have to care about her, too?

"I knew you could handle it, babe."

Ian blushed and accepted the attention, and the fact that Mary didn't seem to matter nearly as much as his dad had, but as soon as Grim lowered his hand, Ian quickly turned to the food that had mostly been left alone in front of him and began stuffing his face!

Grim chuckled beside him and even though Mary kept trying to get his attention, he simply scooted closer to Ian, then began picking up random things with his fork to offer to him in between a few bites of his own.

People began to come over to them now, too, and it seemed like a new person introduced themselves or greeted Grim every time Ian took a big bite of food. Thankfully, no one seemed to mind that he could rarely respond to them besides a nod or a hum. Grim easily spoke for him, though, fielding every single person and conversing with ease.

He wasn't sure how much time passed before things began to quiet down and then, finally, Grim's hand gently squeezed his shoulder and stood up.

"We're all done, babe."

His love's outstretched hand beckoned him to his feet, then out of the massive gathering hall and back to Grim's bedroom, much to Mary's chagrin and even a frustrated shout. They changed out of their clothes, though Ian needed a bit of Grim's help. He might have eaten too much and gotten rather sleepy because of it.

By the time they were done he was doing his best not to doze off as he sat on the edge of the massive king bed.

"Want to stay here tonight?"

Ian would normally blush as he thought about the amount of space on the bed for certain activities, but he quickly shook his head.

"I like your small bed more."

He hadn't meant to say that. His mouth just tended to be too straightforward when he was really tired.

Grim's chuckle met his ears and put a sleepy smile on his face before he heard him walk away, then return after a few moments. Soon, a cool cloth was being wiped along his cheeks and forehead, bringing a bit of lucidity back to his mind.

Covering a yawn with one hand, Ian stood up, then stretched with his hands over his head. He took the cloth a moment later and wiped off his face again, then lowered it as he smiled sleepily.

"Thank you. I'm ready to go now."

They calmly walked out hand in hand and while he managed to put one foot in front of the other and even hold a tiny bit of conversation on the way to where they parked, Ian couldn't help himself as soon as he sat down. His eyes drifted closed and pretty soon, he was snoring quietly, completely out cold before Grim even got them back on the highway.

He awoke some time later as he felt his body gently being lifted, then carried.

Not wanting Grim to hurt himself carrying his weight, Ian pushed himself to wake up enough to walk, but he couldn't manage it until he was settled in a soft, familiar bed.

Grim's...

He drifted off again, only waking when he felt the mattress beside him dip.

Hands were soon undoing the button of his pants and tugging them off, then doing the same for his shirt before it went up and over his head. Feeling that his shoes were already off, Ian rolled onto his side and squinted open one eye in order to reach out and wrap an arm around Grim's well-muscled middle.

"I was going to log on for a bit," Grim said, even though he didn't try to remove his arm at all.

Ian considered letting him go, but when Grim just began petting his head, he realized that the guy was mainly just teasing him. They were both tired from the event earlier.

"Mm... cuddle mm boyfriend," he mumbled, trying to make his words somewhat audible.

He heard Grim huff out a light laugh before he felt the man pinch his nose.

"Boyfriend, huh? Did my husband just demote me because I played it safe with my dad?" Grim teased, his words finally making Ian finish tightening his hold, then roll over, effectively pulling his love with him until they were spooning.

His arms quickly settled into a more comfortable hold for both of them, then he nudged his nose right into his love's soft hair.

"Mm sorry, my husban'. I love you."

Ren began to purr loudly as they both settled in and got more comfortable and Grim tugged his blankets up and over them.

Grim began to grumble some random things about not being the little spoon again after that night or something or another, but Ian was already partially asleep, contently snuggled up to the love of his life.