The Beautiful and Undesirable

Even if it hadn't been 4 O'clock in the morning, in the middle of a vicious storm, and the kid hadn't been so polite and innocent and fucking gorgeous, John would've felt slightly guilty to turn the young guy away. As it was, he couldn't help but practically pull him inside and slam the door, half freezing already in his boxer shorts from the gale-force winds blowing inside. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, he looked the kid over who was stood there, dripping all over his entrance hallway and shivering violently.

"I...um...I'm really sorry-"

"Kid, it's 4 in the morning, believe me I don't care right now. Look, take that off, give it to me." John gestured to the large backpack on the kid's shoulders and he looked a little nervous as he shifted about hesitantly.

"What am I gonna do with it? It's 4 in the morning, it's miserable as fuck outside and I'm standing here in boxer shorts." The kid couldn't help but laugh - somewhat nervously - at that and pulled off the bag, handing it to John who leant it up against the radiator.

"And your coat, put it on there, it'll dry quick." As he removed his long coat, John realised how slight his frame was, even more so when he hesitantly pulled off his hooded sweatshirt and draped it over the warm metal, hands lingering there for a moment to warm up slightly.

"Umm...ok, ditch the shoes and you can have a shower if you want, you look fucking cold."

"I-I'm ok, I don't wanna cause you any more trouble, I'll just sit here by the rad." John looked at the kid for a moment and he could hardly meet his eyes, he looked frightened.

"It's no trouble, don't worry about it, really." He sent a slight smile the kid's way and he nodded, pulling his sodden sleeves over his hands.

"Thank you." John walked upstairs and the skinny, wet man followed him cautiously.

"Here's a towel, the water heats up pretty quick, do you need anything else?"

"N-no, no, thank you very much." John nodded and the other man let himself into the bathroom.

"Tell you what, pass me your clothes and I'll put them in the washer for you."

"I-it's ok, really."

"You can't put those back on, you'll get sick." After a while, the door opened slightly and a tanned arm passed a tight little bundle out the door. John felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he saw the long scar littering the beautiful, otherwise unblemished skin. He took the bundle and did as he'd said he would, throwing the sweatshirt in too, for good measure.

He was sat on his bed, a ridiculously short time later when he heard footsteps slowly padding out of the bathroom and a knock rapped out on his door.
"Come on in."

"I...um...I'm not exactly umm...I mean...I have a lot...umm..." His heart practically twinged as he heard the kid trying to explain about the scars, and how he didn't want John to think he was a freak.

"Don't worry about it." He said quietly and the kid walked in slowly, the arms that were folded tightly across his toned chest doing nothing to hide the two scars that were almost symmetrical to one another there. John made sure to avert his eyes, staying focused on the bright green ones that he discovered.

"I've got some stuff you can borrow, they'll probably be a bit big but at least they're dry." The younger man nodded and John started rummaging through his wardrobe and drawers.

"So how come you were out on a night like this, kid?"

"I'm from California....I left home like a year ago. Tonight I just..got lost and couldn't stay out there any longer." John nodded and turned back to him, handing him some things.

"I don't blame you. Put these on, you'll be warmer." The other guy nodded gratefully and left the room again. John rubbed a hand over his eyes wearily, the kid couldn't be older than seventeen. That would've meant he left home at just sixteen years old.

A few minutes later he reappeared again all bundled up in warm clothes of John's.
"Thank you very much for all this, I am sorry, again." John nodded understandingly and took in the dark circles under the other mans eyes.

"There's a spare bedroom next door if you wanna sleep for a few hours, I know I'm going to." The man nodded and hesitantly walked in there. John heard the door shut, light click out, and the bed creak slightly before he got into his own bed to go back to sleep, somewhat restlessly.

In the morning John peeked round the door to see the other man still fast asleep, and breathing softy. He smiled gently to himself and closed the door again quietly before going to make breakfast and make sure his clothes were dry.