The door closed behind him just in time for a wrecked-looking Mark to step out of the car and start toward Francis.
He couldn’t meet Mark halfway, having forgotten to put on shoes—he wasn’t a slipper person, thank you very much—and waited under the porch ceiling.
Mark walked up the steps and straight into Francis’s arms.
Francis held him and after a while backed to lean against the wall, which allowed Mark to slump against him even more. Francis wanted to do this in a horizontal position, but it was the middle of their workday and he didn’t think Mark wanted to go upstairs to his bedroom right then.
Francis caressed Mark’s back firmly with his palm, and used his other hand to scratch the back of his neck to keep him grounded with his touch.
He wasn’t sure how long they stayed there like that, but eventually Mark gathered himself a bit more, enough to be able to stand and make eye contact.
There was nothing Francis could say, so he smiled sadly. Mark gave him back the same kind of wavering half- smile.
“I’ll be okay,” he said in a hoarse tone that Francis knew came from crying, based on how red-rimmed his eyes were.
“I know. I’ll stay here tonight, so if you need me, come over.” When Mark glanced at the nearby living room windows, Francis smiled again. “They’d rather you be here than alone with the kind of day this has already been. They really like you. You’re their ‘favorite deputy.’” Francis made the air quotes.
Mark seemed pleased. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll figure that out. If I come over, can I bring something to eat from the diner? Or I could drive to Mercer for something, too.”
“I’ll text you. They might like Chinese. I know it’s something they had with Moira, as Henrietta mentioned it the other day, but they haven’t had any in ages I don’t think.”
“All right. Let me know.” Mark leaned in and kissed him, tasting of salt and a little bit of gratitude.
Francis slid his fingers around Mark’s neck, holding him close and dominating the kiss for a moment. Then he let go and pulled back.
“There. Go keep Acker safe.”
Mark chuckled, obviously feeling much better already. “Will do. I’ll talk to you later.”
Francis watched as he drove off, wondering how long it would take for Mark to get through this. It wouldn’t be a short process, and he hoped Mark would understand that. Maybe he should suggest that Mark took Evy out for drinks soon. Evy would know how to be supportive without suffocating Mark, and Francis knew that he couldn’t be the person Mark relied on for therapy-type needs, even if he could use his intuition to be of real help.
He’d talk things through if Mark wanted, but he didn’t want their power balance to become warped in any way. They already had the D/s, bringing a mentor-type of thing to it wouldn’t work in the long run.
For now, he vowed to be a supportive partner, because he knew Mark would be that for him if the situation arose. The fact that they hadn’t talked about what they were to each other was something Francis could let slide for now.
* * * *
Mark turned up after work with plenty of Chinese food. The Grahams were excited and pleased that Mark had literally gone out of his way to get them the meal.
They sat in the living room, Francis and Mark on the couch and Henrietta and Charles in their respective armchairs with trays in front of them. Every time someone wanted something, Francis got up to give it to them.
“I can’t remember the last time we had Chinese,” Charles murmured, patting his stomach. They’d made a pact that tonight, they wouldn’t think about what such meal would do to his diabetes, but he’d let Francis take his blood sugar one extra time both that evening and the next day, just to keep an eye on it. It wasn’t good for Henrietta’s heart failure either, but food was food at this point, or so she’d said earlier.
“Might’ve been when Moira was here the time before last, what’s that… two years?” Henrietta asked before biting neatly through another spring roll.
Francis had seen her eat more that evening than she had in days. It wasn’t healthy food, necessarily, but it was sustenance and every little bit she’d eat was a plus at this point.
“I’m glad I could give you two this, you’ve been so kind to Francis,” Mark said, making Francis’s heart jump.
Mark was obviously bashful after his comment, and Francis reached over to touch his wrist.
“Francis has been such an incredible help.” Henrietta smiled at them. “It feels good to have a bit more life in the house again.”
“It’s a big house,” Charles said, nodding sagely. “Moira always says we should have more people over, but who would we invite?”
“Oh yes, so many of our friends have passed away or live in homes, some have moved to live closer to their children and grandchildren.” Henrietta frowned, and Francis could see genuine sadness over their situation in her expression.
“Well,” he said after a few beats of silence. “I might have a way to fill your house with people for a few days this summer.”
