Eric's breathing turns uneven.
His hands tremble.
His eyes lose focus as memories start clawing up from inside.
eric (mind racing):
"Idiot, idiot, why did you say that?
What if he thinks you're dirty?
Just like she said…
Just like she made you feel…"
His body begins shaking violently.
eric:
"It's—it's okay… I wasn't thinking…
Mom used to—"
His voice breaks painfully.
"—used to touch me inappropriately… and I thought…
if you touched me…
maybe I'd be clean again…"
A tear drops.
Then another.
Then it all collapses.
eric: voice cracking
"Justin… I'm not pure.
She made me dirty.
I thought… if you touched me…
I'd be normal…
I'd be fixed…"
Justin's whole world stops.
He steps forward and catches Eric by the shoulders before the boy collapses.
justin: horrified
"Eric—hey—hey, look at me."
Eric keeps crying, shaking, apologizing for things that were never his fault.
Justin cups Eric's face firmly — not possessive, not sexual —
protective.
He forces the boy to meet his eyes.
justin: voice low, trembling with emotion
"Eric.
You listen to me very carefully, okay?"
Eric hiccups, trying to breathe.
Justin gently wipes his tears with his thumbs.
Then Justin's voice turns fierce.
justin:
"You are NOT dirty.
You are NOT impure.
You are NOT broken."
Eric swallows hard, staring at him in disbelief.
Justin presses his forehead to Eric's gently.
justin:
"You're the purest person I've ever met.
Not because of what you've been through—
but because NONE of it ever changed your heart."
Eric's knees weaken.
Justin wraps an arm around him, supporting his weight effortlessly.
justin:
"And you don't need me to 'fix' you.
Because there is NOTHING wrong with you."
A breath catches in Eric's throat.
Justin lifts his chin again, looking at him with warmth that melts every fear.
justin: soft smile
"But you do need something."
Eric blinks, confused.
Justin bends down slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to Eric's forehead, slow and warm.
Eric freezes—
not from fear,
but from a kind of happiness he didn't know was allowed.
justin: whispering
"If touching makes you feel safer…
If it makes you feel loved…
If it reminds you that I'm NOT her…
Then I'll give you this kind of touch."
Another forehead kiss—
slower.
Reassuring.
Healing.
Justin places one hand on Eric's back, rubbing gently in circles.
justin:
"No rushing.
No fear.
No hurting.
Just comfort."
Eric melts into his chest, gripping his shirt tightly, sobbing quietly —
not out of pain,
but out of relief.
Justin presses his cheek against Eric's hair.
justin:
"From now on…
whenever you feel dirty or scared…
come to me.
I'll make you feel safe.
Not with the wrong touch…
but with the right one."
Eric clings to him like a lifeline.
His voice is tiny… but hopeful:
eric:
"Then… what will you do now?"
Justin smiles softly, brushing Eric's hair back.
justin:
"I'll give you the first thing you deserve."
He lifts Eric fully into his arms —
protectively, gently —
and holds him close against his chest, like something precious.
justin:
"A real hug."
---continue