Page 51 of Inhuman Natures #1

They traipsed back upstairs, tidying the messy flat as they discussed what to do next.

After a lot of back and forth, they decided to tell DJ’s parents that they were moving to Australia.

It made sense. He could still talk with them on the phone given the ‘time difference’, and the high cost of flights and his dad’s ever-growing fear of flying would work as a deterrent to them visiting.

Also, both DJ and Rake had the skills to manipulate images for posting on Instagram to keep up the charade.

It was foolproof, even though every fibre of DJ’s being protested the lie.

DJ burst into tears no fewer than four times as they drove to his parents’ that Friday night. It got to the point that Rake made DJ switch with him, even though Rake hated driving.

Shaun also offered to drive, but it became apparent that he’d never driven a car before and was just trying to be helpful. It helped, but only because it made DJ laugh so much that he ended up doubled over in the seat. He didn’t miss the sneaky smile Shaun shot Rake, but chose not to comment on it.

When they arrived at his parents’ house, the mood became more subdued.

DJ had texted ahead about Shaun, figuring he would give his parents some time to digest the news.

His mum had already responded with her usual stream of emojis, including a shocked face and a love heart, and his dad had simply thumbed up the message like he did with any other.

His parents must have been watching out the window, as the front door opened when they clambered out of the car and into the beam of the automatic porch light. Bernie, his parents’ Jack Russell, bounded out to greet them as they walked to the house.

DJ took an unnecessary breath as he approached his parents, terrified they could tell something was different with him. But, as his mum pulled him into a warm embrace and his dad gave him a back-slapping hug, he relaxed a little.

“Good to see you, Rake,” his mum said. “And you must be Shaun. Do you like hugs?”

“Hello,” Shaun said, waving awkwardly. “Um…”

“Mum, let him get inside first.”

“Fine. But I want an answer, young man,” she said.

DJ ushered his parents through the hall so Rake and Shaun could follow. It was only thanks to his new enhanced hearing that he heard Shaun whisper to Rake, “ Do I like hugs?”

DJ struggled not to laugh at Rake’s emphatic response. “Of course you do. Don’t be silly, sweetheart.”

They situated themselves in the large living room, the three of them taking one of the sofas, DJ in the middle.

Bernie curled up at his feet, and so he reached a hand down to give him a well-deserved pat.

His mum asked who wanted a cuppa and some biscuits.

When she got a chorus of no-thank-you’s from them, she looked taken aback, but settled herself in her favourite armchair even as DJ’s dad said he would like a cup of tea.

“Tell me how you all met,” his mum said.

They’d practised for this. They were going to stick to the facts as much as possible. “We met on a night out,” DJ said.

“Just like me and your dad!” his mum exclaimed, looking at his dad with such warmth it made DJ’s chest ache. He was going to break their hearts.

“So how does this all work, then?” his dad asked.

DJ cocked his head. “What.” Was his dad asking about the mechanics of their relationship?

“I just mean, you two have been together for years. Are you both with Shaun now? Or is it more you date Rake, who dates Shaun, who also dates you?”

DJ looked blankly at his dad. Who was this man?

“We’re all together equally,” Rake said, cutting in.

“So you’d consider yourselves polyamorous?” DJ’s dad asked.

“Dad, how have you even heard of that?”

“You do remember I spent a lot of my childhood and teen years in Brighton, right? Punks and hippy central. Pretty sure a few of my schoolmates ended up joining a polycule by accident,” his dad said matter-of-factly.

“How is this the first time I’ve heard about this?”

“You want me to regale you with tales of my misspent youth?”

DJ covered his ears with his hands and started singing. It didn’t block out his mum’s laughter. She addressed Shaun, asking him about his background and what he did for a living. Shaun blanched, but bullshitted enough that it satisfied his mum .

His dad jerked his chin towards the kitchen. “Help me grab a cuppa, kiddo.”

The second they got into the kitchen, his dad elbowed him playfully in the ribs.

“Check you— two men! I remember teenage you being too nervous to ask whatshisname to the cinema.” ‘Whatshisname’ was Darren Hayes, the first boy DJ had ever had a crush on.

Darren was straight, but had still agreed to go to the cinema with DJ because DJ offered to pay for the popcorn.

“Dad, stop.”

The corners of his dad’s eyes crinkled with fondness. “Okay, I will.” His face grew more serious. “So what’s Shaun’s story?”

“What do you mean?” DJ asked, careful to keep his voice neutral.

“He comes across as a bit… fragile. You and Rake being good to him?”

“We are. But he’s not breakable, if that’s what you’re saying.”

“Not at all. Just seems like the kind of guy who needs a little bit of extra care.”

DJ didn’t disagree. “We’d do anything for him.”

His dad beamed. “Course you would.”

“Right, this is a far too emotional conversation.” DJ puffed up his chest. “Did you watch the game the other day?”

His dad clapped him on the shoulder. “Yep. And I would rather not talk about it, which is how I know you don’t even know the score.”

“Dammit.”

“I joke, but I’m glad you’re happy, kiddo. That’s all that matters to me. ”

DJ couldn’t cry. Literally couldn’t, or else his bloody eyes would give the whole thing away. So he threw his arms around his dad. After a quick squeeze, he collected himself. “We have some more news.”

His dad raised one brow, but DJ just pointed at the living room. “Better we announce this one together.”

His mum was still talking to Shaun, both of them nodding away and discussing a book series they’d both enjoyed. Rake—with Bernie now sitting in his lap—caught DJ’s eye as he came back in, giving him a reassuring smile. Of course, Rake had listened in on the entire conversation.

Once they’d all sat back down again, DJ decided to go for it. “We’re moving to Australia.”

His mum’s face cycled through half a dozen expressions. “Since when?”

This was Shaun’s cue. He looked at both of DJ’s parents, making sure he caught their eyes in turn. “As you know, they’d been speaking about the idea for a while. We’ve booked tickets to move in a couple of weeks.”

His parents’ eyes glazed over a little. It was a simple plan. They just had to compel his parents to believe they’d been planning this for some time, so as not to throw up any red flags.

His dad nodded. “Of course. That’s exciting. Have you got a place out there sorted?”

“Not yet. I can share some photos once we have,” DJ said.

So began the careful layering of compulsions.

Shaun would sprinkle suggestions into the conversation, such as emphasising DJ’s dad’s unwillingness to travel long distances.

By the end of the discussion, DJ was almost pissed off that they weren’t moving to Melbourne.

Of course, staying in the UK was a better idea, but it didn’t stop him from imagining the three of them lying on a beach some day, even if it would be during the night.

His mum kept offering them food until DJ instilled the belief that they’d all just eaten. It worked for a while, but his mum’s need to feed them seemed to override the compulsion. It had already been late when they’d arrived, so he made their excuses to get out of there sooner rather than later.

DJ’s mum gathered him up in another hug, whispering about how she was proud of him and how much she liked Shaun. She then threw her arms open for Shaun, who, after a short hesitation, stepped in for his own hug. Before leaving, each of them lavished Bernie with attention, as was his right.

It felt like more than a simple goodbye, even though DJ knew they’d be able to visit and talk for a while still.

When they were back in the car, Rake insisted on driving so that Shaun and DJ could sit in the back whilst he played chauffeur. DJ buried his face in his hands once more.

“Are you all right?” Shaun asked, tentative.

DJ lifted his head, meeting Rake’s eyes in the rear-view mirror before looking at Shaun. “I will be. I promise.”