Luke said goodnight to his parents for the night before retreating to his room. He wasn't surprised to find Danny Rands, his boyfriend of nearly a year, waiting for him to join him in bed, casually reading one of his books on martial arts. He got dressed in a tank top and shorts before laying down next to him.
"How did it go?" Danny asked.
He put down his book, giving Luke his full attention.
"Pretty well. It's a good feeling having my parents back in my life."
"I'm glad the reunion went as well as it did, Luke. You deserve it."
"I know. I'm just worried about how they will take it. How they will take us," Luke said while holding Danny's hand.
"Do you think they will not approve of us?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. I just don't know what to think really. They've been out of my life for three plus years. I'm nervous about what they are gonna say, how they will react."
"You believe that you will disappoint them by not following the path they originally paved for you?"
"They wanted me to follow their footsteps and become a scientist.
I just don't want to shock them completely. Having the shock of seeing their kid alive after thinking for three years I died has not been shocking for them. Now finding out their son is alive after all these years is bi. I don't know if I was a parent how I would take that. They had high standards and dreams for me, and I don't want to hurt them."
"So you will risk hurting yourself for the sake of your parents."
"Ye-no. You're missing the point" he groaned while sitting up.
"Maybe you are, my love. You want to please your family with a lie."
"I would tell them eventually-"
"Meaning you would wait the same amount of time it took you to come out the first time."
Luke could sense the disappointment in his tone of voice.
"Danny please, I'm sorry. I-I just can't be out and proud with my parents in the picture. Their views on gay people and issues might not have changed in those three years. I don't want you getting hurt because of me parents homophobia."
"I understand. Just promise me that you will not go back into the closet. I am fine with not being as open with your sexuality as you used to be, but I can not accept if allow yourself to go back into the closet."
"I promise that I won't. I'm sorry that I have to do this. I'm sorry that I have to do this to us. That I have to do this to you."
"It will be fine in the end. I am going to sleep in my room for the night. Goodnight Luke."
Danny moved from the bed, kissed his temple before leaving his room. Before Luke could protest his departure, the door softly closed. With a soft sigh of frustration, he turned off the light and went to sleep.