It was late in the evening when the Alpha couple took residence in a hidden room. Atlas made sure this room remained secret to his pack, everybody but one. His mate. Niel knew about the room for a couple of days. The room was located under their bedroom, all at the far end of the mansion. This was the side that viewed partly the forest and partly the lake, the side where only patrols would visit when needed to. It was, for this reason, Atlas chose the room to be located there. It wasn't grand, it was rather small. Only a large couch, a bookcase, a small tv, and an armchair fitted inside of it.
The first time Niel was there it was a rather short visit. The teenager and the big guy were tired that evening so they only sat there, next to each other looking out of the window, while enjoying each other's embrace.
But this particular evening Atlas felt energized. He wanted to make this evening a romantic one if, of course, Niel would let him. He had chosen a movie and had brought some snacks and drinks.
The teenager let himself fall on the couch. "Are you tired, love?"
"A bit, not really though," Niel lied. He was tired. He was busy training to gain his muscles back. It was hard work as he wasn't used to training anymore. It had both saddened and encouraged him.
Atlas put the movie in the television and chuckled, "Don't lie to me Niel, I know you have been training every morning." The Alpha disagreed with his mate's behavior but he let him. He would look out for him and the moment Atlas thought Niel would overstep, he would put a halt to it.
Niel's eyes widened as he sat up straight. "I-I- You have seen how my body has become! I-" Atlas held his hand up and smiled. "It's alright, it's alright. All I want for you is to be careful. Listen to your body."
The Alpha walked up to the scared teenager. He took his hand in his and carefully pulled Niel up and guided him towards the big armchair where the Alpha put him in his lap. Niel was surprised. It had felt awkward.
"Relax," Atlas whispered tenderly. He put his arms around his mate's body and made sure he was comfortable. The tension in Niel eased away as he welcomed the embrace. He always felt incredibly safe in Atlas' arms. He couldn't describe how a warmth would spread through his body, how his worries ebbed away, how the world would make sense at that moment.
A part of him was still apprehensive. The part of him that still questioned his sexuality, his beliefs, and his wants. But he tried to let go of them. Niel had always felt on edge in his old life with his parents. Always afraid he would not get recognition from his father, his family, his peers, and his community. But with Atlas, he didn't need to fear. He would be seen just how he was and not be judged for it. The teenager felt sometimes upset that he couldn't notice this sooner. It would have saved lots of trouble, he thought, as his hand stroked his neck, his fingertips feeling the rigid edges of his scar.
"I am so sorry I did that. I still can't believe I let my beast take over me. If just-"
"Atlas, you already apologized... let's not focus on the past." Niel didn't want those memories to resurface again in his mind.
"You are right," Atlas gave a kiss on the scar causing tingles to spread all over Niel's skin, making him shiver with excitement. "Sorry," The Alpha chuckled, "Didn't mean to do that."
The teenager playfully punched him. They both laughed but as soon as they made eye contact Niel's laughter died down and he looked away.
Atlas noticed this strange behavior for a while now. He grabbed his mate's chin gently and turned his head until they face each other. "Why is it that you can't make eye contact with me? Or anyone else for that matter?"
"I don't know, it's hard to explain..." Anxiety washed over the poor boy. He started to fumble with the hem of his shirt again like he always did.
"Try me. It saddens me I can't look into those gorgeous eyes of yours," The Alpha whispered. Those grey eyes captivated him from the first time he saw them up close. Its color was unique, but what was even more peculiar was the truth they held. Niel wasn't a good liar, and it was the boy's eyes that would always give him away.
When Atlas met Niel when he got chased by his classmates he could see the hurt and fear in his eyes, which he tried to cover up so badly. And again he saw the sadness in his eyes when Niel's father, Peter, had cast him out.
The big Alpha hoped he could find joy in those ash-grey orbs one day. A joy that he would bring into the teenager's life.
"It's just h-hard for m-me, okay? I-I didn't- just..." Niel couldn't find the words. He didn't want to talk about it, his anxiety became worse and the tried to flee. Niel put his hands on Atlas' arms trying to pry them off.
"Hey, hey, hey, nobody is going to hurt you," Atlas whispered soothingly. "Nobody is going to judge you. I only want to help you, but I can see it's too much to ask right now." The Alpha put his arms tighter around his mate and kissed the crown of his head.
Niel calmed down and whispered, "I think... it's because of my dad. He...I was afraid I would either get into trouble looking directly at him or that I would see the disappointment in his eyes and... and I wanted neither so I didn't look him in the eyes... Soon after I would do that with anyone who I didn't want to disappoint and eventually it turned into anyone who would stand in front of me."
The teenager could hear his mate sigh. He was afraid of his response. "Oh, Niel..." A comfortable silence fell after that. The two of them remained in the armchair in each other brace.
After a while, Atlas carefully stood up and so did Niel. The Alpha took the tv remote and sat back down again and pulled his mate in his lap again. As he started the movie he said, "You will only find love in my eyes for you, my beloved."
The two of them started to watch the movie together in peace, this went on for twenty minutes until Niel grew restless. "You don't like the movie?" Atlas asked.
The teenager shrugged his shoulders. "Do you want another movie?" He shrugged again and finally said, "I just don't like movies that much."
Atlas pretended he was greatly offended and gasped. "How could you not like movies?!"
"Just don't like them."
"Any movie?"
Niel nodded his head. "Any movie."
"Marvel movies?"
Niel shook his head.
"The Titanic?"
Niel shook his head.
"Interstellar?"
Niel shook his head again.
"Hmm, what about tv shows? Do you watch them?" Atlas asked. Hoping that the teenager would say yes. Television was his form of leisure and he wanted to enjoy that with his mate.
"I don't like them much, but they are easier to watch."
"Why is that?"
"It's just hard to pay attention for so long with movies, tv shows are a bit shorter, thus easier to watch."
Atlas hummed, understanding what he was saying. "So if you don't really watch anything, what do you do in your free time? Are you a reader, you rather make up the movie inside your head? Is that it?"
The teenager's face grimaced. "No, I don't like to read either."
"What has become of the young these days?" Atlas muttered.
"Are you calling yourself old?" Niel quirked up a brow.
The Alpha eye's widened. He was surprised by his mate's wit. "Did you just make a joke, Niel?" He laughed. Niel laughed with him.
When their laughter died down they both turned their attention to the movie that was playing, The Great Gatsby. Atlas liked the book better, but the movie was great for when he wasn't in the mood to do more reading than he already did for his work.
"So what is that you do?" Atlas finally whispered.
Niel shrugged. "I train and I like to listen to music."
"That's it?" Niel nodded. "What genres do you listen to?"
"Not really any, I mostly listen to Queen and sad music." Queen had been Niel's favorite band since he was a young boy. His mother liked a couple of their songs when she was his age and that's how the band was introduced in the Johnson household.
Niel had become quite obsessive about Freddie Mercury when he was ten. He wanted to have long hair like him, wanted to play the piano like him, and even wanted to wear the big heels as Freddie did in the seventies. Of course, his parents, mostly his father, disapproved and even grew concerned. When the young Othniel noticed he hid his excitement for the band and the obsession faded.
The only thing that Niel could do to be more like Freddie than playing the piano. His parents had one at home, and when he expressed his desire to learn to his mother, Camilla encouraged him. She was happy her son had more interests than sports.
It was after Florance's death Niel stopped playing the piano and Queen's music was placed in the background. Sad music became dominant in Niel's playlists. It was only in these sad songs that the teenager could grieve over his loss.
"I should really mix up that culture palate of yours. If you let me of course." Atlas chuckled.
Niel faced his mate and whispered, "Maybe."
The couple locked eyes, it was such an innocent moment. Atlas didn't think twice, leaned forward, and kissed his beloved mate. Niel was surprised, having no idea what to do. He didn't resist and put his trust in Atlas. He let him take the lead and Niel followed.