John woke up to a pretty man slumped on the chair beside him. He started at first, then relaxed as he remembered Alexander.

"Alexander," he said softly.

Alexander was awake in an instant. "Are you alright? How are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine. Sorry for bleeding all over your couch,"

"It's okay! It's not like it's your fault,"

John laid his head back in defeat. "It sorta is,"

"No, John, it's not. Whoever did this to you, they're an awful person,"

John looked over at him. "You're really nice for being so rich,"

Alexander laughed gently. "I try. You're still okay with staying here, right?"

"I don't want to trouble you, you probably have enough on your hands without caring for some useless, crippled, kid,"

"John, you're not useless. And we're the same age, I can't call you a kid. Also, I'm lonely, you should stay,"

"You could have women falling all over you with your status. Men, if you're into that,"

Alex blushed slightly. "I'm bi, I'll take  both,"

John cracked a grin. "Only proving my point, though,"

"I'd rather have you in my house. You seem...good,"

John sighed and rolled so he was sitting upright on the still bloody couch. "You'll get bored of me fast, but thanks for letting me stay,"

"I won't get bored. I've got to take care of you until you're better. If you still don't have a place to stay, you can live with me more permanently," Alex gulped. He had a good feeling about this man, and he found himself increasingly enticed.

"I-I," John was stunned. "That...is the best thing anyone has ever offered me,"

"Stay with me, then,"

John leaned forward and hugged Alex lightly, as if testing his boundaries. John's bare chest was against Alex's tight shirt, and it felt good. Alex put his arms around him too, careful of pressuring his bruises.

"Do you want to rest? I can show you to your room,"

John nodded, and took Alex's hand as the man offered it. As soon as he stood, he leaned into him, for his side burned like hellfire. "Sorry,"

"You need to stop apologizing for things that aren't your doing. Just lean on me and I'll help you down the hall," Alex smiles, and John thought he was going to faint. It might have been from blood loss, but still.

Alex led him slowly to a large room at the end of the hall, easing John down on the bed and pulling a blanket over him.

"You alright, Johnny?"

John nodded. "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere, I suppose. I don't have anything to do unless I want to go to work (I don't),"

"Could you, I don't know,"

"What?"

"Stay?"

Alex went to the other side of the bed and laid down beside John. "Is this okay?"

"That's just fine,"

A moment of peaceful silence, then, "You never confirmed who abused you,"

I forgot to put a shirt on, too, John thought. "It was my father,"

"Why?"

"I told him I was gay, he said my son isn't a fag. Tried to beat the gay out of me, I guess,"

"Oh, you're gay?"

"Yeah, and you're attractive. You should probably go unless you want my gayness to rub off all over you,"

Alex rolled so he was pinning John's shoulders gently to the bed. He leaned down close, and whispered, "I wouldn't mind that at all,"

John went red and his lips parted unconsciously. "Are you gonna kiss me?"

"Only if you want,"

John slammed upward into Alex's lips, wrapping his arms tightly around the man's neck regardless of the pain that burned in his bruises.

It was as if Alex could sense this, for the kiss only lasted a few seconds before Alex pulled back. "Hey, don't hurt yourself,"

"B-boyfriend?" John said breathlessly.

"Yes," Alex laid down beside him again, this time with an arm thrown over John.

"Good,"

John turned so he was against Alex's chest, then fell into contented sleep.

BONUS: PEGGY'S POV

(Don't you just love it???)

I walked into John's bedroom with a plate of food, and all I could see was the guest's shirtless torso and an arm thrown over him.

"Alexander!" I hissed.

Alexander lifted his head sleepily. "What?"

"Was there consent going on here?! I find it hard to believe that a stranger would come in and do this,"

Alex sat up fully, revealing that he was fully clothed. "He didn't put on a shirt, you perv, we still have our clothes on,"

"Why are you sleeping next to him, then?"

"He asked! Then we kissed, which he said he wanted, and now here we are, innocent,"

"Innocent my ass," she muttered, setting the tray down on the nightstand and exiting the room.

"I heard that!" Alex called after her.