Banned

Please enjoy the second installment of this dystopian sorrowful love story. In a world where being gay is a criminal offence, can two young love sick boys find a way to be together?

Brief recap: Daniel is gay, and has kept it a secret all his life. He has to, in a world where even hanging a pride flag is a finable

offense, being gay is not open to discussion. But when the handsome new boy joins his school he can't help himself from thinking... what if? To his surprise he wants to be friends... but he's straight, right?

That's what the new boy, Luke, had always thought, but after meeting Daniel he can't seem to stop thinking about him. But being gay is wrong, his father works for the government, he can't be gay. Luke decides to distance himself from Daniel, leaving him feeling hurt and betrayed. Luke can't stand seeing him hurt and ends up kissing him in a cupboard, revealing that he was not so straight after all... but after a warning from Luke's father to keep away from Daniel, will they be able to keep their secret in the woodland meadow forever? Or is there danger on the horizon...

***

Daniel

Finally, it was winter break. No schoolwork, no teachers, just freedom and Luke. Luke. Who lay next to him dozing under the blankets they had brought to the meadow.

He couldn't help but gaze at him as he slept, his mouth slightly ajar, his eyelashes spread over his cheeks that he realised only now, has the slightest hint of freckles. He wondered absently if they would darken in the summer. As if he couldn't look anymore perfect?

Daniel's fingers itched to intwine with his limp hand that lay in the grass, relaxed in sleep.

He didn't understand why a guy like Luke would be interested in him. He had been sure Luke would end up with one of the hottest girls in school. But he chose him instead, despite all the difficulties that it would bring.

Luke had grabbed him before their last day of school yesterday and explained in a hurried voice that he had to distance himself at school. Although initially it stung, he listened as Luke explained that the teachers were in communication with his father. That his father had told him to keep away from Danny.

"If they hear us say the wrong thing, or we do something that they think is suspicious, it'll be immediately passed on to my dad and then we will never see each other and-"

"Luke, I get it. You don't need to explain. Meadow only, otherwise we are just... classmates."

Luke had nodded, the fear in his eyes making Daniel's own stomach twist uncomfortably. He desperately wanted to hug him, but knew he couldn't.

"Later?" Luke asked, not needing to explain.

"Straight from school, I'll be there."

He nodded, again and began to walk away before turning back, "oh and, be careful around Clara."

The school day had been tough. He had got so used to Luke's company, that being on his own again was jarring. He saw Luke, sat with some guys from their year and smiled to himself. Knowing that later, they would be alone together in the meadow.

When the day finally ended, he walked straight from school and out of the gates. He followed the same route as yesterday, scaled the cliff face and waited by the lake.

He heard his footsteps before he saw him, and turned to see Luke striding towards him. He stood and Luke grinned, wrapping his arms around him and spinning him around like he was a child. He laughed and cried out and Luke eventually set him down on his feet, only to take his breath away with a long and fervent kiss. When he finally came up for air he smiled and stroked his cheek gently.

"I missed you so much today," he murmured.

"I missed you too."

They spent the rest of the daylight hours in the meadow, and by the time the dark drew in they were both shivering, despite being wrapped up tightly together. That was when Daniel had suggested bringing blankets and rugs for their next visit.

"And snacks," Luke added. "we can be here all day then."

Now here they lay. On the ground were the remnants of the lunch they had shared, before cosying back up under the blankets together. Luke's eyelashes fluttered and he awoke, stretching slightly in Daniel's arms.

"Sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep," he mumbled.

"Don't say sorry, it's cute," Daniel grinned and Luke smiled sleepily.

"Mmm, checking me out whilst I'm sleeping are you Hughes?"

"Absolutely," he grinned and Luke chuckled, closing his eyes and shuffling in close again.

"I sleep better with you. At home I'm always getting these anxiety dreams."

Later, when Luke had finished his nap, and had sat up, scratching his head sleepily, Daniel asked, "I meant to ask yesterday, you said I should be careful around Clara... what was that about?"

Luke sighed, turning to him with a slight frown, "you know how I told you about my father quizzing me, and about Mr Lowe?"

Daniel nodded, and Luke gave a grim smile.

"Well, Clara started getting involved, adding to it. I don't know, maybe it was nothing but... before we've always had each other's backs, whereas the other night..." he paused, pressing a finger into his temple, "I want to ask her about it, but I feel like it might make things worse. Besides, being here, and at school, with her at the girls school, I haven't really seen her without my parents lurking around."

"You should talk to her, I'm sure she didn't mean to do any harm. She's your twin, you guys are really close."

Luke nodded, "anyway, this is depressing. Let's talk about something else."

Daniel smiled, as Luke pulled at the grass beneath him.

"What were you thinking?"

"I want to talk about you," he said lifting his head and grinning.

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Can we kiss instead?" he suggested and Luke pulled a face.

"Darn, you know how to distract me too well," he grinned, falling back into the blankets as Daniel pulled him close.

Luke's arms wrapped around him, pulling the blanket up and around them, their legs tangling, their breaths hot and heavy as they sunk into bliss.

*

Days passed this way, a happy blur in the meadow with Luke. They spent the majority of their time kissing, and touching each other's bodies. On occasions they had rubbed each other more intimately, but only ever through their clothes. With Luke only just getting to terms with his newly discovered sexuality, Daniel wanted him to be the one to make that step.

They would bring flasks of hot drinks to keep warm, and walk around in the surrounding wild woodland together, keeping clear of the public footpaths. It felt truly magical, and Daniel wished with all his heart that they could live like this forever. But of course, they couldn't.

They didn't visit the meadow over Christmas, each spending it, however awkwardly, with their families, but they did see each other at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day church services. They both played a convincing act of not being interested in each other, but when no one was looking Luke winked at him and Danny smiled. Both feeling the giddy excitement of having a secret that was only theirs to share.

On Boxing Day, they had agreed to meet at the meadow for lunch. Luke arrived with a box of leftovers and a game of monopoly tucked under one arm, wearing a red and white Santa hat.

"Oh wow," Daniel laughed and Luke grinned, placing the monopoly down on the blankets Daniel had laid on the grass.

"Oh don't worry, I brought you one too," Luke said mischievously, pulling another hat from his bag. He spun cheerfully on one finger, as Daniel shook his head and groaned through his laughter.

He knelt before him, and gently placed the hat on his head, leaning back to take in his handwork.

"There," he said, his fingers sliding from the hat, to Daniel's cheeks, stroking them affectionately as he gazed at him. Daniel gazed back, unable to quite believe that he was real. Luke pulled his face gently upwards, and they exchanged a long kiss. The bobble of Luke's Santa hat, tickling his cheek.

"Merry Christmas Danny," Luke whispered and Daniel smiled.

"Merry Christmas," he replied. "Now, I want to thrash you at monopoly."

They sat and played together on the blanket, eating leftovers and laughing. To Daniel's delight, he was winning. Luke scowled as he landed on his property again.

"Pay up bud," he teased and Luke groaned.

"I don't even have enough money to pay you," he mumbled, and then suddenly looked up with a sly smile, "maybe I can find another way to pay my debts."

"Oh?" Daniel said raising his eyebrow, "how's that?"

"With this body," Luke said in a mock sexy voice, unzipping his coat with a smirk.

"Oh, oh wow you're really going for this," Daniel said between bursts of incredulous laughter as Luke threw his coat on the floor, and followed it up with his jumper before he began unbuttoning his shirt.

Daniel watched in amusement, but also with hungry excitement as his bare chest appeared. His toned abs were exactly what he had imagined as he stood, pretending to flex his arms, his shirt unbuttoned, still wearing that ridiculous Santa hat. It was perfect. He was perfect.

"Oh yeah, is this enough payment for you?" He laughed, throwing the shirt to the blanket and standing topless before him.

Daniel gazed at him. He really was like a Greek god. His muscles were perfectly toned, his body somehow as beautiful as his face. The sun shone around him, making him glow,

his hair alighting into flaming gold just like it had the first time he had seen him in the church.

If there really was a god, he felt like was getting the message loud and clear.

"Mmm almost," Daniel replied, leaning back as he enjoyed the view.

"What else do you want?" he argued with a laugh, "is this not shameful enough for you? And it's fucking cold I might add!"

"How about you come over here and kiss me, with that shirt off. I promise I'll warm you up," he smiled, innocently.

"Deal," he groaned, knocking over the monopoly board as he practically leapt on top of Daniel.

Daniel yelped in surprise, but it was stifled by Luke's mouth on his. He moaned as he felt Luke's bare skin under his fingers, their hips grinding against each other as their bodies tangled. He felt Luke's hands in his hair, on his face, as his lips began to kiss down his neck. He moaned in delighted pleasure. Maybe this was the moment they would take it to the next level. He felt Luke's hand slip below his shirt, exploring his bare skin with icy cold fingers that made him shudder in cold and delight. He opened his eyes, words forming on his tongue, perhaps to check that Luke wanted to carry on, but the moment he opened them, his mind went blank. His eyes flew past Luke to the entrance of the clearing, panic flooding him with white hot fear.

He froze.

"Luke. Luke! Stop!" He hissed hastily, untangling himself from him and getting to his feet in a rush. Luke turned, and momentarily froze, before scurrying to retrieve his abandoned clothes.

"Dad," Daniel said weakly, unsure what to say.

His father did not speak. He only stared, unmoving, the knuckles on his clenched fists white.

He just stood there, stiffly, his eyes following Luke as he finally stood, fully clothed once more, looking sheepish. He pulled off the hat.

"Sir," he said politely, with an awkward apprehensive smile.

His father smirked, shaking his head as he walked further into the meadow and settled himself on a rock, lighting a cigarette from his back pocket, before looking back at them both.

"Totally straight huh?" He said to Daniel, glancing briefly at Luke and then back again. Daniel reddened, remembering the words and how much had changed since them.

"I was... wrong," he said weakly.

His Dad laughed darkly. "Clearly," he muttered.

They both stood in fearful silence as Daniel's dad took another long drag, running a hand over his face before looking at them both with heavy, tired eyes.

"Fucking relax boys, I'm not going to report you. You're my kid for Christ's sake. Who do you think I am? Jesus."

Daniel felt rather than saw Luke relax slightly where he stood, and he too breathed a shaky breath.

"Thank you," Luke said breathlessly, "I... we appreciate that so much."

"Well you probably won't appreciate what I'm going to say next," he said grimly. Luke and Daniel looked at one another, as his dad slowly stuck his cigarette in his mouth for one final puff, before stubbing it on the side of the boulder.

"You need to end this," he said, his voice firm. "Now."

"No," Daniel said shaking his head, curling his fist. He couldn't. He couldn't bare even the thought of it, not now he had experienced true happiness. He couldn't go back to a world of self-hatred and aching emptiness.

"Stop acting like a child and think for a second. Luke..." his father turned to Luke with a narrowed gaze, "it is Luke isn't it?"

Luke swallowed and nodded, "yes sir."

"Luke, do you care for my son's wellbeing?"

"Absolutely," he said firmly.

"Daniel, do you care about him?" His father asked, cocking his head towards Luke, his eyes icy and fierce.

"Yes," Daniel replied, glancing at Luke who stood looking genuinely frightened beside him. He desperately wanted to reach out and hold his trembling fingers, but he swallowed and looked back at his father with a sad shrug, "obviously."

"Right. So how will you feel when you're both caught? Think. You may be prepared to face jail yourself, but Luke have you thought about Daniel alone in a jail cell because of you?"

Luke paled, his mouth opening for a second, but unable to argue back. His father moved to face him.

"Daniel, have you thought about Luke never being able to hold a job down because of the criminal record you gave him? What about if they torture you or worse?" His voice raised, getting angry, "There are some nasty fucks out there who really hate people like you. And I'm sorry, I don't want to be the bad guy here, but if I have to be to save your fucking necks then goddammit I will be."

He stood, walking towards Luke, "your own father is in the government boy. He isn't going to take his kid being a fag lightly, is he?"

Luke winced at the slur but said nothing, his eyes lowering.

"We're not a children, we're old enough to make our own decisions, whatever the consequences," Daniel said quietly, his fists still clenched as he gazed at the floor.

His father laughed darkly and Daniel looked up at him tentatively, as he turned slowly to face him, but his eyes weren't angry. They were sad as he sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose between finger and thumb.

"Shit. I've always known this day would come," he said looking at Daniel with a look that seemed to have a greater meaning to it, a desperate pain. He realised how much pain and worry he had brought him over the years, just by being himself. "I promised your mother I'd keep you safe, but how can I if you..." he trailed off, putting a hand over his face.

"We... we'll just leave the country, or something," Daniel said weakly and his father laughed.

"Ah yes, and how do you plan on doing that exactly?"

"I, well, we have to..." he stammered and his father laughed.

"God, you have no idea do you?" He laughed incredulously.

Daniel and Luke both hung their heads.

"Look, fine, as much as I may regret this... I'm not going to make you end... whatever this is, and I'm definitely not going to report you. But you need to know what you're getting into here, you need a plan and you need to be careful," he said, putting a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Really fucking careful. I love you kid... so much. And I know I've been a shitty father to you," he paused and Daniel saw his eyes sparkling with what could be tears, "but you're right, you're an adult now. I can't tell you what to do. And I see how happy you are, happier than I've ever seen you. Just please. Think about what I said," he looked to Luke, walking back slowly, "both of you."

He stood back, surveying the clearing with a wistful expression, before smiling sadly. "Your mother was always happiest here too."

Then without another word, he retreated back into the woodland, and disappeared from sight.

***

Luke

Danny was visibly shaken by seeing his Dad, and the moment he was gone, he sagged, his face contorting with pain.

Luke instantly pulled him into a tight hug. A fierce hug, filled with fear and desperate longing for a life they couldn't have.

He buried his face in Danny's hair and let the tears flow freely. The gravity of Danny's father's words were heavy on both their shoulders. He had been right about one thing, they had been naive, childish frankly, to think that things could go on like this, a secret romance. This was the beginning of something much bigger. It was a terrifying prospect, but less terrifying than the idea of losing him.

With every minute, every glance, every touch, his need for Danny grew. He was addicted to the feel of him, the sound, the taste, a drug that only became more potent with every use. And yet he couldn't see a way out. They were doomed to suffer in one way or another, but he'd rather suffer with Danny than alone.

They held each other as they both cried, and at some point Danny lifted his head, and they went from crying to kissing. The salty flavour of his tears were still on his lips as they kissed. His mouth was hot against his, and he felt the hunger raise in him. 'More!' it seemed to growl, 'More!'

Without needing to speak, they moved to the blankets. Silent need consumed them, egged on by a strange fear that if they pulled apart now, that they wouldn't come together again, that their time together was more precious than ever.

Luke began stripping his clothes, and then Danny followed suit until they were only in their jeans. The cold air made him shiver as he knelt over Danny, undoing his jeans silently. They didn't need words, it was almost as if to speak would break the fragile magic of the moment.

Neither had noticed that it had begun to grow dark in the clearing, and Luke saw that Danny's eyes shone in the twilight, gazing up at him, wide and beautiful.

Their eyes did all the speaking for them, as they bore into each others souls, every flaw, every weakness, laid bare.

He needed Danny, and Danny's eyes reflected that need right back at him.

Luke's hands found Danny's warm hard cock with ease, and despite what he had thought, it didn't feel strange. He had been so nervous about taking the next step, and yet, it felt so right, so easy to take his cock in his hands and stroke it gently.

He heard Danny gasp and saw his head loll back onto the blanket and smiled. He knew what to do, he knew what felt good. Without a word, he drew his mouth to his cock and licked it. It tasted good, slightly salty, but most of all he liked the sound it drew from Danny, the soft gasp he made. He wanted him to make more noises like that, to feel good. He licked it again, longer this time. Then he began to suck.

He could hear Danny's breathing quicken, and he whimpered.

"Luke," he moaned. Hearing him moan his name like that only stirred him on as he sucked more fervently.

"Fuck," he whimpered, "I want you to fuck me so bad."

Luke paused in his ministrations at that. He wanted to do that too, but he didn't know how. He knew that doing it wrong might hurt him.

"Tell me what you want me to do," he whispered and Danny sighed again.

"Keep doing that, and put your finger in my ass. But wet it first."

He did as he asked, pushing his finger slowly into his asshole whilst he continued to suck. His hole was tight on his finger, and he wondered how it would ever feel pleasurable to be stretched wide by a cock. But as he continued to finger him softly, he felt the hole loosen slightly. Soon he was able to add a second finger, and then a third.

He wondered what it would feel like on his own dick and shivered in anticipation, feeling himself throb in the confines of his boxers.