Note: thank you to my Beta LadyEros for her wonderful job and patience.

Thanks for reading!

Ethan took a deep breath as he mentally prepared himself for anything. "Just get it over with," he muttered under his breath. He waited another minute, before he began walking over to where Danny stood.

"Hey Danny, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"I don't know, Ethan. Can you?"

"I'm sorry, Danny."

"Sorry for what? If you want to talk, then talk. Don't blurt out a archetypal vague apology and expect it to work."

Ethan tried his apology again. "Sorry for running away like that. I've never been in a relationship and this is new for me. I don't know how to make this work out." That wasn't the whole truth, but at least it wasn't a total lie."

Danny shook his head sadly. "That's not enough, Ethan."

"I know, but…it's complicated."

"Yeah, of course, it always is. You always are. This relationship is unbalanced. I'm here for you, Ethan. Every time you call, I answer the phone, every time you want to talk, I listen, and every time you need a hug or support I give it to you. Even though I do all of that, you are not there for me. Sometimes I don't know anything about you for days, and you don't even take two minutes to send me a text. I answer all your questions, but you never really share anything real with me. I do know that a relationship is not an equation; you can't equal the parts to solve the problem, but I think the least I deserve is that if you don't feel for me the way I feel for you, then you tell me that to my face instead of running away. Do you even want to be with me?"

Well that hurt. That really hurt. Not because what Danny said wasn't true and not because Danny didn't have the right to feel that way, but because he couldn't say it. He was there for Danny, too. He betrayed his own pack for many reasons, but the main one was Danny. He didn't want to lose him but he did know that this was going to end sooner or later, maybe the sooner the better.

"Sorry, I probably crossed the line there," Danny said to break the silence and force Ethan to talk.

"It's okay, Danny, but I don't want to continue this conversation. I better go." Ethan turned to leave.

"My God! Ethan, please," he said, lowering his voice and closing the space between them.

He didn't know how to act with this guy. It was like a minefield. He always had to watch his step. Sometimes a little trivial commentary from Danny about science fiction and he was sad all night. Sometimes a little dark humor made him upset. When things became too emotional his response was to run away.

"Talk to me," Danny said softly, approaching Ethan until they were inches away from each other. He was beginning to fear the worst possible response from Ethan at that moment, he put his arm softly around Ethan's waist "Even if you don't want to be with me, talk to me, please. I need that." He pressed the other teen against himself and once again whispered to him. "Talk to me"

Ethan melted from Danny's loving touch. He buried his head in Danny's neck, inhaling his wondrous scent. One moment ago he was ready to walk away, but now, as he was pressed against Danny, he decided he would be selfish. It wasn't fair to Danny. He deserved more than that and Ethan knew that. He was in the best place in the world right now. He raised his hands, hugging Danny back. Ethan squeezed him as hard as he could. "Danny, everything you said about me is true. I'm complicated. You could be hurt because of me."

"I know that. If you still want to be with me, you'll probably hurt me someday and I'll probably hurt you, too. That's life. That's a relationship, but some people are worth the pain."

Ethan closed his eyes. The human had no idea about how much or what kind of pain he was talking about. "I want to be with you," he whispered, still with his head in Danny's neck.

"I really do. Tell me you need from me. I can't promise I'll be able to give it to you, but I can promise that I'll try."

"There are two things I want from you. The first one, well, I've been asking almost since the beginning and..."

"Danny!" Ethan laughed and raised his head to meet Danny's eyes.

"You're playing dirty. "

"Yeah, you can't blame a guy for trying... but thanks to that, now you're looking at me."

"That's manipulation" Ethan pointed out, still smiling.

"Whatever." He smiled back at Ethan. "The other one is to promise me that you won't run away anymore. If there's a problem then, talk to me. Even if you don't want to explain yourself at least let me know that there's something wrong. That's all I want and that's all I ask."

Ethan smiled "Ok, I won't or... I'll try not to, promise." He kissed the human, slowly, moving his hands up to his neck, pulling him closer. He pulled away, but his face was still a few inches away from Danny's. The two boys were feeling each other's breath on their lips. They stayed like that for a few minutes. Danny was looking at Ethan and Ethan closed his eyes, focused on memorizing Danny's smell.

"I've already missed one class, I have to go now." Danny kissed Ethan again "See you later."

"Ok."

[...]

"Danny! Danny!"

Stiles ran in their direction when they were outside of school. Danny sat in the grass with his back against a tree and Ethan between Danny's legs with his head against Danny's chest; eyes closed.

"I have to ask you something about software." Stiles pointed to Ethan. "Is he asleep? "

"'He' is awake," Ethan said.

"Yeah, he likes doing that. Even when we are supposed to see a movie or, like now, thinking about our science paper," Danny said, feigning an annoyed tone. Danny looked down at Ethan. "Am I comfortable as your pillow?"

"I'm smelling you."

"Talking about kinky," Danny replied. "Wait, do you always do that?"

"It calms me down."

"I'm still here, guys. Within complete hearing range and everything," Stiles objected. Neither Danny nor Ethan reacted to Stiles, ignoring him.

"Well, when you two end your 'smell party', can you come help me in the library? I have my laptop."

"Yeah, give me two minutes." As soon as Stiles left, he kissed Ethan's hair. "Thanks for making me self-conscious about my smell."

"You always smell good. Even after we fuck and you're covered in sweat and cum, besides there is no trace of that aftershave left—you smell great. That's why I always complain about the showers right after sex."

Ethan let out a little complaining noise when Danny tried to get up . "Five minutes."

"If you had any idea of how Stiles is, you'll know he'll be here in two."

"Then one minute and a half, "he practically purred.

"Ethan," Danny said.

"One minute," Ethan amended.

"Oh my God, what is this?" Danny smiled. He hated and loved this side of Ethan .

"Thirty seconds," Ethan continued.

"This absurd argument lasted about that so, it's time to go."