His mother froze in her chair, her entire body tensing up, as Edward walked over to stand at the foot of the table.
"What are you doing?!" Edward said, nearly shouting, only just managing to keep his voice under control.
"Edward, darling, I forgot to tell you earlier..." his mother said stiffly through clenched teeth.
"Don't 'darling' me, when I've walked in to find you eating without me!"
"Edward!" she bit back fiercely. "Don't take that tone with me. And we can eat whenever we like, this is my house, not yours, so you will kindly hold your tongue and mind your manners. This is a dining room, not some, some...grotty hospital!" she growled.
This time, Edward could hold his frustration no longer and roared in retaliation.
"I ONLY BLOODY ASKED WHY YOU WERE EATING WITHOUT ME! OR DID YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR INJURED SON, WHO WAS BLINDED FIGHTING FOR KING AND COUNTRY"
Mouths gawped open, even gaining a reaction from his statue like father, who shared in the look of shock from the latter statement. Silently, his parents sat horrified, looking like they might just die from disapproval.
"What did you say?" his mother's voice came out faintly, obviously still recovering from his words.
Nevertheless, her voice recovered fast, and now it was her time to loose control, as she shrieked:
"what did you just say? How dare you use foul language like that in my home, in my dining room, during my dinner! What right have you got to come storming in here, showing no courtesy what so ever? We can eat whenever we like, and don't need to consult or invite you! Why can't you just be more like your brother Jack, he would never give a holy show like this! Now get out" she ordered, standing up and throwing her napkin on the table.
"NO!"
"Edward, do as I say, or so help me god, I'm going to do something unforgivable, and might just cast you out this instant, if you don't change your attitude! Do you know the huge favour and sacrifice we're doing you by letting you live here?"
"I've always lived here! This is my home! Now tell me why you've decided to eat without me" Edward said manically, gritting his teeth and squaring his jaw as he spoke.
Some how, his father still sat like rock, paralyzed to his chair.
Maybe he's dead?
With a large sigh, she attempted to calm her tone, knowing that he would most likely kick off when he had heard what she had to say. The final new rule. And she wasn't prepared to give him the privilege to arguing about it this time.
"You're not eating with us any more." she said matter-of-factly, preparing to make her excuse. "it's going to be too much of a bother getting you up and down the stairs, and it would just be easier for all of us if you eat up there with your man. From now on, I'm going to have two trays sent up there every night"
Edwards jaw nearly dropped to the floor, hardly able to believe his own ears.
And with that she strode over, ushering him towards the door with her hand and pushing it open to reveal an eavesdropping Thomas, standing with his ear inclined towards the space where the wood would once have been.
"Take Edward upstairs right now! I'll tell Gregson to send you both up a tray."
And with that, the door was slammed shut.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Edward attempted to control his breathing. Meanwhile, Thomas was in the shared on-suite bathroom, which happened to lead off of Edward's bedroom, rather than between the two rooms, meaning when ever he needed the loo he would have to walk through his room. Hardly the worst thing in the world.
Thomas bent over the bathtub to turn the taps, dipping his hand into the water every so often to check it was the right temperature.
Walking into the bedroom, Thomas stopped to lean against the arch of the door, as he looked at his physically, and now mentally wounded lover on the bed.
Sitting slumped on the mattress; Edward held his head in his hands, letting out a deep sigh every so often. He looked up at the sound of Thomas entering the room, his eyes almost pleading, as if hoping Thomas would have something to say to make everything feel better.
Thomas knew that there was nothing he could say to make him feel completely alright about the earlier events, but he could at least try.
Sitting beside him, Thomas reached an arm around his body, pulling him into a sideways cuddle.
"I know it hurts Edward. What she said was wrong, and I'm sorry that that happened to you but...but..." Thomas sighed, taking a deep breath, "but maybe it's for the best. A blessing in disguise perhaps?"
Edward looked up to meet his eyes, not looking convinced.
I don't blame him.
Thomas continued regardless.
"I think it's probably good that you spend as little time as possible with your mother. Would you really enjoy eating with her everyday? That woman's a nasty piece of work if ever I saw one." Thomas said in hushed tones, giving a shake of his head as he spoke.
"I know, it's just, that way she said it. Y'know? How she openly pushed me aside, openly cut me out of her life, not that I wanted to be part of hers but...I mean, I'm her son god damn it! I just...I mean-" Edward mumbled solemnly, his voice breaking off and dragging to an undignified end.
Together they sat in silence, feeling the comfort in the loving atmosphere.
Taking Edward's hand in his own, Thomas stood up slowly, gently tugging to show Edward to do the same.
"c'mon, I've ran you a bath. It'll help you relax" Thomas said softly, giving his palm a light squeeze.
Upon entering the room, Thomas turned off the running water and partially emptied the contents of a tub of bubble bath into the hot water.
After stirring it around, Thomas turned to Edward. He was pulling at his army shirt, struggling to find and undo the buttons. Now standing opposite him, Thomas reached across to help, taking each fastening gently in his hand and slipping it out of the hole. He was nearly half way down when he felt a pair of hands feeling around his stomach and soon mirroring his motions.
He stopped briefly at the touch of Edward's hand brushing against his chest, feeling the colour rise in his cheeks, as he guiltily longed for more. They continued until both of their shirts were undone.
Pulling, Edward discarded the Corporal's unwanted shirt onto the floor; Thomas swiftly following suit. For a moment both men stood in front of each other, both unsure of what to do next. They had kissed and hugged, yes, but had yet to have the privilege of feeling one another's skin against their own.
Almost as if reading Thomas' mind, Edward bent his head down to lightly place a kiss of his upper chest. His touch sent shivers down his spine and goosebumbs across his skin.
Although Thomas had been close to men before, he had never properly loved, making his every experience with Edward feel unique, with the strange sensation of his heart being touched for the first time, unleashing his virginal soul, allowing their two spirits to become intertwined.
The water was warm and pleasant as it surrounded his body. It had been so long since he had last had the pleasure of bathing that it was nice to combine the two special moments, although worlds apart in difference, into one seemingly perfect memory.
They were sitting opposite each other, each at the far end, letting their legs become entangled in the middle of the bath. Lifting a leg out of the water, Edward ran the toes of his foot up Thomas' chest and onto his jaw. Placing a delicate kiss on his foot, Thomas ran a hand up his leg to rest on his inner thigh. He felt Edward shudder under his touch. Climbing forward, he let Edward's leg slip back down, as he rearranged his body to lie on top of the lieutenant's, resting his head on his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around his back, Edward drew him closer, to maximise their closeness.
An hour passed of just relaxing in the water, broken up every few minutes for another kiss, before Thomas decided to speak.
It was fair to say the day hadn't gone as well as intended, but Thomas was determined to give the night a calm and peaceful end, and have the next day go with no further upset or insult; knowing he couldn't let the tomorrow go to ruins as well. If Edward was occupied and accompanied by him, there would be less room for disaster; and luckily, remembering their hospital days which already seemed so distant, Thomas knew just the activity to keep him busy.
"Fancy a walk tomorrow?"
