John woke up in the morning beside Alex, he rubbed his eyes with a soft yawn. Alex was already awake, odd, John was always the first awake. Alex was reading and John was squished up against him with a turtle plushie wrapped tight in his arms.

(I drew this in science class for a visual ssshh 😂😂 I have exams next week whoops)

Light streamed in weakly through the gap in the curtains. John turned to watch as tiny dust particles danced in the rays of light. Alex didn't say anything, he just continued reading. John climbed out of bed and moved towards the window, opening it to let more light in the room, but the light that streamed in faded to become red. The sky was crimson with sharp, jagged clouds slashed through it. The whole room bathed in a red glow from the window and John stepped back in fear.
"Alex are you seeing this?" He muttered, turning to Alex, but he screamed at what he saw. His dad knelt over Alex with his belt wrapped around Alex's neck, choking him. John advanced forward with a scream but he couldn't reach him. There was some kind of invisible box surrounding Alex and his father because as hard as John pushed he couldn't reach Alex.

John screamed and cried, yelling at his dad to stop while he watched the love of his life be choked to death. Finally Alex fell limp and Henry removed the belt from Alex's neck. John screamed in pain as his heart was ripped out of his chest and his stomach dropped, slamming into his toes. He turned to John with a malicious glare, brandishing the belt in his fists.

John stumbled backwards as his Dad got closer and closer. Soon John was backed against a wall as Henry loomed over him, the red light casting sharp shadows along his nose and under his eyes, exaggerating his down-turned brows and evil orbs.

He lifted the belt and John watched in horror as it came whipping towards him.

John woke with a start at 4am sharp, snapping upright and throwing his head around in distress. This woke Alex who had been snuggled up against him.
"Hey, you okay?" Alex cooed, reaching up and rubbing a hand down John's arm. He leant backwards into the pillows gently, careful of his back before replying.
"N-nightmare," John whispered, wiping his forehead. His whole face was glazed with sweat like a freshly-baked donut.
"Again?" Alex sighed with a sympathetic glint in his eyes. John dropped his head in shame and Alex pulled him into a tight hug. "It's been 4 weeks, John,"
"I know I just, it's the same thing every time," John muttered, balling his fists. "Everything's fine until my dad shows up and everything goes red."

John hadn't told Alex that he is choked to death every time his recurring dream haunted him again. He didn't need to know that.
"It's okay, your Dad is locked away and can't touch you, not that I would let him," Alex assured him, running a hand up John's shirt and lightly running his fingertips over John's warm skin. "I'm the only person allowed to touch you," he smirked.
John threw his head back in a fit of laughter and Alex smiled. The sound of John's melodic laughter echoed in Alex's mind long after he had finished laughing.

"But seriously though," Alex chuckled, his hand still under John's shirt and tracing unidentifiable patterns along his abs. John leaned forward into a soft kiss with Alex. Alex reached up through the collar of John's shirt and rested his hand on John's jaw. The kiss started slow but as soon as John took his shirt off the temperature in the room sky rocketed. He crawled over Alex and Alex wrapped his arms around his bare torso. John slid away from Alex's mouth to pull Alex's shirt off.

They continued to make out, shirtless under the covers, until John slowly strayed from Alex's lips and began leaving kisses down Alex's neck. Alex moaned softly and tangled his hands in John's hair. He had just finished perfecting a hickey on Alex's collar bone when he felt pressure against his stomach. John glanced up at a very red Alex, a smirk dancing on his lips. John slowly lowered himself deeper under the sheets and wrapped his fingers around the edge of Alex's pants. He was about to pull them off when a soft knock echoed through their room.

"REALLY?" Alex groaned, throwing his head back. John laughed and emerged from under the sheets, pressing a quick kiss on Alex's nose.
"I've got it," he whispered in low tone, turning Alex on even more.
"God you're hot," Alex sighed while John's lips lingered over his.
"Not as hot as you," John laughed, pressing his lips on Alex's again.

Another, more annoyed knock echoed through the dorm followed by a familiar voice.
"What the heck are you kinky assholes up to at 4:30am? Yes I know you're awake I can hear you kissing," Peggy groaned from the other side. "Wish we had made this door soundproof when we fixed it,"
John couldn't help but chuckle at that. He bit Alex's lip as he pulled away, letting it slip from between his teeth.
"SAME," John replied to Peggy. "We'll fix this in a sec," John whispered in Alex's ear, his hand trailing down his bare chest and resting at the rim of his pants. Alex shivered at John's touch, his face bright pink and lips still swollen.
John climbed out of bed and answered the door to a sleepy Peggy in navy blue sweatpants and a grey over-sized shirt.

"Nice abs," she commented as John pulled the door open.
"MINE." Alex yelled from the bed. John and Peggy laughed a little before turning back to each other.
"I'm sorry it's a ridiculous hour but Angelica is feeling a little sick so Eliza sent me to ask for these," Peggy shrugged, handing John a scrap piece of paper with a list of about 5 different pain-killers and cough syrups. John inspected the list, nodding slowly.
"Yeah we've got these two, I don't know about the rest," John muttered, turning around to retrieve the medications from the bathroom. Peggy cringed when she saw the scars on John's back. Her and Alex were the only people who knew. She remembered when she found out, the same night they fucked.

"Well I'm definitely gay, but my Dad is very clear that he disapproves of it." John sighed. Peggy nodded understandingly, spooning more ice cream into her mouth.
"I haven't told my Dad, I get the feeling he won't take it well," Peggy said, rolling her eyes in defeat.
"The great Phillip Schuyler when he finds out his youngest daughter is gay," John laughed, reaching over and taking some ice cream for himself.
"What a shit-show," Peggy giggled with a mouth full of ice cream. John choked on his with laughter, which caused even more hysterics.

"It's fine, he wouldn't do something drastic like my Dad," John muttered, swallowing his ice cream.
"Drastic?" Peggy questioned, raising one brow. John hesitated before looking down at his spoon in shame.
"Listen, I've never shown anyone this, but you're my closest friend and I think you deserve to know." John sighed sheepishly. Peggy met his eyes with curiosity and worry.

"John? What does your dad do that's so drastic?"
John gulped and paused for a moment, before closing his eyes and pulling off his shirt. He turned around and Peggy gasped in horror, tears springing to his eyes.

"He says it's punishment, and until the day I am cured he has to do it," John said in almost a whisper, swallowing back his emotions.
"Jesus John, being gay isn't some disease, what kind of crack is your Dad on?" Peggy replied with the small joke at the end, trying to lighten the mood a little. She traced her fingers over John's back and he shivered a little. "But wait," Peggy muttered.

John turned around where he sat to face Peggy again.
"Until the day you are cured?"
John nodded, keeping his eyes down-cast. "John, I have an idea, and I don't think you're gonna like it, but, what if you make your Dad think you're 'cured' so he'll stop," Peggy suggested.
"I tried telling him I was straight but he said I was lying to get out of punishment and for that I would be punished more," John sighed in defeat, cringing at the memory.
"Then show him you're straight." Peggy suggested, still eating her ice cream.
"Wha- how?" John questioned, taking some ice cream for himself.
"Screw a girl, and give him proof of it so he can't say you're lying," Peggy shrugged finally, pointing her spoon at him.
John thought for a moment before his face brightened.

"It'll be weird," John cringed. "But it could work,"
"Well now just find someone to fuck." Peggy laughed, continuing to eat her ice cream. John finished swallowing his ice cream and looked at her with wide eyes. She hadn't noticed him staring at her until after she had finished her spoonful. They stared at each other for a good 40 seconds before they both leaped forward into a rough kiss. The kiss was a fight for dominance, rolling over beside the tub of ice cream. Finally Peggy got on top and pinned John's hands above his head.
"Have I found her?" John laughed, raising his brow.
"Looks like it, but this is for your safety," Peggy warned.
"Of course, we're both gay as fuck it's fine." John laughed. Peggy joined him before leaning down and pecking his lips again before wiping her lips on her sleeve in fake disgust.
"Ugh yep, I'm so gay,"

Peggy laughed to herself at the memory. Their plan had worked and after John gave his Dad some very visual proof and introduced him to Peggy, he fully believed they were dating and stopped the punishment, until last year, his first year of college. Peggy was completely unaware Henry had gone back to his horrific tradition until his arrest 4 weeks ago. She was sad John hadn't told her, but he was always fairly conservative and she respected that.

John finally emerged from the bathroom with two glass medication bottles. Peggy took them and thanked him profusely. Both Alex and John wished Angelica a smooth recovery as Peggy left. As soon as the door shut though, John swivelled around and sauntered towards the bed, swinging his hips slowly.
"Now, where were we,"