gay? who, me???

It’s not that Martin isn’t right, but... Pascal carefully pulls his arm free. “I’m not scared of them. I’m scared for them. I’m scared this is something they won’t accept and that the truth will harm them. I... I don’t have that much inner demons to struggle with. No matter how much I twist this, I’m not afraid of being with you. I love every second we spend together. But this relationship can’t cost me my parents health and well-being. Do you get it?”

“Yes, that is the worst that could happen! It could kill them to know I’m gay, Martin! How can you not get it?” He’s aware his voice is a little raised so he works on lowering it. “I’m sorry, I’m just under a lot of pressure. I think I’ll go stay home with my parents till after the holidays. I’ll call you.”

“This is ridiculous. You’re making fun of me, and worse - you’re not even taking this seriously.” Pascal huffs and grabs his “gifts”, ready to shove them in the back of a closet. “It’s not dumb jokes. This is taunting me. I... Fuck, Martin. I’m getting anxious just looking at this crap! And you think it’s funny!”

Pascal pulls away as something occurs to him. “Is it you? Are you trying to be funny? Because it’s not.”

Pascal grunts and pulls away, so not in the mood for kissing. “What do you mean? How am I giving them anything? I’ve been super private about this.” The mind starts running and paranoia overtakes every fiber of Pascal’s body. “Oh my God. I have my own personal Judas. Martin, we have to move - now.”

“That’s nice of you.” Pascal immediately starts to wonder what the guy’s occupation might be. Guys this day and age don’t just care for strangers unless it’s a professional distortion. “Not long. But it’s our second time giving this a go, so I’m not sure if we count the fact that we used to date a few years ago.” It’s still hard to talk about the fact that he’s dating a man, so Pascal turns the table. “How about you, anyone special?”

“Just ordinary chocolate chip.” Pascal just hopes Drew approves of them and does throw them in the garbage for being too plane, or something. “Are you going to freak out?” he asks politely. “You look pretty calm, but you never know. Want to make sure I’m prepared if you need anything.”

Pascal takes a patient, long breath. “Martin!” He follows after the man, exasperated. “They are after me. Mocking me! Just look at all of this stuff,” he says, taking out the other two gifts. “They know and they are making fun of me!”

As soon as Martin walks through the door of his place, Pascal jerks him faster inside with a fist around his shirt and pulls him to a secluded spot in the apartment. “Someone knows!” he hisses and shows Martin the Secret Santa sweater he got. “They are going to out me! I think they left me a playful threatening note!”

“Pascal,” he offers his name back in return, staying close to watch what Wesley is doing due to a slight case of the ‘i know what should be done better than you’. “I mean, I can handle it, but it will get pretty old pretty soon if they don’t fix it fast.”  The cookie smell Wesley mentioned wasn’t helping, since it was only increasing Pascal’s appetite. “I helped my... boyfriend’s niece and nephew make some sweets today. They have a kindergarten party tomorrow and everyone has to bring something homemade. Or so I was told.” 

Oh, great. Pascal is stuck in an elevator with a guy who’s obviously gay and obviously flirting with him. “Crap. Is there an alarm button? Some way to contact the emergency team in charge of this building?” He dares to step closer to the other man, who’s only vaguely familiar. “No wonder they are shutting down the building. Sorry what was your name again?”