Chapter 4

Evans was experiencing Déjà vu as Derek led him into his mansion of a house, he hadn't really looked around when Derek had led him here a week ago because he was drunk and when leaving he was in haste. When they arrived the front poach, the door was opened by an elderly woman with a kind smile, a dimple poked in her right cheek and her blue eyes sparkled.

 "Derek." She called to him 

"Hey Greta," He walked towards her and gave her a kiss on the cheeks, Evans smiled at that. The woman kissed his cheeks back then she noticed Evans behind, holding his bag, watching them with a lost and unsure expression on his face. "Hi, you must be a friend of Derek I suppose?"

"Hi, good evening Ma'am. I'm Evans, Derek's... Derek's cuddle bud..."

"Friend!" Derek spoke suddenly shooting Evans a look. "This is Evans, a friend of mine. He has come to stay with us for awhile while helping solve a case I am working on."

Greta looked at them with a mischievous smile on her face. "OK then, come on in with your 'friend' Derek." 

Derek walked in with Evans following close behind, Greta closed the door behind them. "While don't the both of you go freshen up, I am about to set dinner."

"I am starving!" Evans said out suddenly, both Derek and Greta turned to look at him and he stared back confused. Then slowly his eyes widened as he realised he spoke out loud, his cheeks turned the colour of a tomato in embarrassment. "Sorry."

"It's nothing dear," Greta chuckled. "Go get settled and come back for dinner."

Derek led Evans up the stairs, unknown to him Evans was racking through his head looking for a way to start up a conversation with Derek. The night he shared with Derek was one of the best he had ever had and he didn't know where he stood with him now.

He looked at Derek as they walked down the lit passage, he looked like the gentleman type and the kiss he had given Greta on the cheeks showed that he had a warm heart. He wondered what Derek was really like and things he did and was good at, apart from sex and catching criminals.

"So, is Greta your aunt?" He asked, that was the only thing he could think of.

"Well, Greta is... She has been with me since birth, she is like a mother to me."

"That's nice, what about your mother?"

"She's away, I don't really like to talk about her, she abandoned me." He pushed open the door and walked in, Evans followed in quickly.

"I- I am so sorry, I didn't know. I am so sorry Derek." 

"There is nothing to be sorry about, you didn't do anything to make that story." He gave Evans a sad smile. "Well, that's that. This is where you will be staying for well, whenever."

Evans looked round, the room was big, too big. Evans looked round unsure, he walked towards the window and pulled the curtain back, he was faced with rustling trees. Evans imagined himself sleeping in the night, with the wind howling, the trees would give the image of shaking figures, he didn't want to add that to the nightmares he had every night of Louis, last night he had a dream where Louis was holding a plier which he intended to use and burst Evans balls, Evans had woken up and remembered how many times he had threatened Louis with bursting his balls.

He turned back to face Derek. "Is there a smaller room, that maybe doesn't have a window facing the trees and also maybe happens to be closer to your room so when I scream, you will come to my rescue."

"Uh?" Derek looked lost.

"Do you want me to repeat that again?"

"Is this about what I said at the office with the men climbing in through your windows, that wouldn't happen, I was just messing with you."

"It's not that, I just have Lar- Largeroomphobia."

"Largeroomphobia?"

"Yeah, it's fear of-"

"Large rooms." Derek finished for him. "It's in the name. Also, I am pretty sure that's not a phobia, it isn't even a thing."

"Well then, why do I have it? If it isn't a thing then why do I have it? People can have things that don't exist but I do, so it means it exists." He walked towards Derek, "So is there any smaller room?" Without waiting for a reply he walked out.

Derek stood stunned, his left eyebrow twitched in disbelief. He turned around and walked out.

Three rooms later.

"Is there any other room?" Evans asked quietly.

"That's the fourth room I have taken you too. The only other room here is Greta's, Martin's and mine." Derek gave a heavy sigh after he was done. He was very close to putting Evans over his shoulders and locking in one of the rooms, he would have done that if it wasn't for the fear that crossed his face each time he a room and looked out the windows. "Is something wrong Evans?"

"Nothing really just my Largeroomphobia hitting up... Fine, it's not really a thing." He said after he saw the look on Derek's face.

"I figured. Well, maybe you will feel better tomorrow, do you want to stay with me in my room?"

Evans face lit up, "Really?"

"Well, you have slept together before, no harm if you do it again."

"Well, yeah, s-sure, uhmm..." He bit his lips looking round the room nervously, his cheeks flaming.

"I won't do anything you don't want me to Evans, you have my word." He said assuringly, together they walked out of the room and went towards Derek's own.

Derek opened his door and held it open for Evans, after Evans walked into the room Derek followed and closed the door behind him. Evans looked round the room, it was all black, the sheets, curtains, the whole interior of the room was black.

"I would leave you to dress up, fresh towels and spare toothbrush are available. If you need anything, you will find a golden bell in there, just ring it and I will come meet you. Is that OK?"

"Yeah, thanks," Evans murmured and watched Derek as he walked out of the room. He looked round the room, the black curtains prevented him from seeing the trees and Derek would be beside him all night, maybe this night wouldn't be so bad. He nodded to himself and walked towards the bathroom.

~~~~~~~

Derek walked downstairs to meet Greta waiting for him in the living room, she was holding the telephone in her hands and looked really worried.

"Greta? Is everything OK, who was on the phone?" He walked towards her and held her by her shoulders, staring deep into her eyes.

"It- It's was your mother." Derek froze.

"My mother?"

"Yes Derek, she's in town and wants to see you." Derek shook his head while mumbling 'no' under his breathe.

"What did you tell her Greta?"

"That I would speak to you about it and she said Ok."

"Well, no need to bother again, you already know my reply next time she calls, tell her to leave me alone." He turned to walk away, Greta seeing this grabbed him by the elbows quickly.

"She is your mother Derek, no matter what she did you have to forgive her. Come on Derek, you can't hate your mother."

"I don't hate her Greta, I just don't want to talk to her or think of her existence, at least not today." He sent her a begging look in his eyes. Derek didn't hate his mother, he couldn't hate her for all the times she had stood by watching while his father had whipped his favourite belt hard on his bare back. He couldn't hate her for never holding him close and consoling him afterwards, or for never opening the door for him when the monster he called a father would lock him out on cold nights, she never brought a blanket for him. He couldn't blame her though, he wasn't the only prey of the monster, he had seen the scars on her body. Even if she wanted to help, he wouldn't let her.

Greta nodded understanding. "I would be in the dinning room, you go change from that work clothes." He nodded his head and watched her as she walked away.

His family was once happy, until his fourteenth birthday. Derek sometimes wishes he could go back and slap fourteen year old him for coming out. But sometimes, when he thought of everything he had gone through, things he has achieved, he doesn't regret that day. With a heavy sigh he climbed up the stairs to check on Evans. 

~~~~~~~

Evans rubbed the soap across his naked back, he breathed in the sweet scent of the soap, Almond and milk and he could almost catch a hint of wild flowers in there. He breathed in deeply, a smile on his face as his muscles relaxed as he lay in the bathtub, the warm water kissing his skin..

Minutes after, with an alarm of his tummy rumbles, he remembered food was waiting for him downstairs. He finally got up, he reached out for the spare towel, grabbing it, he wrapped it round his waist and got out.

After draining the water, he stepped out of the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Waking into the room he was met with a shirtless Derek, in fact he was only in his briefs. He was going through his wardrobe so he hadn't seen Evans.

Evans stood still not knowing what to do, should he inform him he was done or just move around his own business. He held tight to the towel, aware of his naked form underneath and cough slightly. Derek hearing this turned around surprised and Evans which he had just kept quiet, the sight he saw almost had his eyes popping out of their sockets, he took a loud gulp and looked away. 

"I wanted to tell you that I'm done." He said quietly, while looking anywhere else but at Derek.

"Oh, that's fine. I took a shower in one of the guest room, just finished up some minutes ago." His mouth said, but his eyes was raking the body of the man in front of me.

Evans shifted from one foot to the other, feeling his body going hot under the intent stares of Derek. "I'm sorry for taking so long in the bathroom." 

"Oh, that's fine," Derek said and finally tore his eyes from Evans, he turned back to his wardrobe and continued racking through it for a clothe to wear.

Evans walked to his bag which he had kept in a smaller empty wardrobe he had found in the large room. He unzipped his bag, the one which contained his clothings and went through it, looking for a decent outfit to wear to dinner. He finally found one he thought would be just fine, a black jumpers and a blue shirt, it wasn't much, but he was just having dinner with Derek, not like they were on a date.

Turning back to look at Derek who had on trousers now, Evans thought this would be the best time to remove his towel and wear his shorts. With his eyes trained on Derek's back, he bent down bringing his shorts to his ankle level, quickly he raised one foot followed by the other into the holes provided. He slided it up his legs, after they had rested on his hips, he smiled in success and threw the towel away, leaving him only in his tiny shorts.

Soon he was straightening his shorts when Derek finally turned round and saw him dressed. "You ready?"

"Yes." Evans nodded.

~~~~~~~

Dinner went on smoothly and Evans showered sweet words on Greta on her food, Derek rolled his eyes as Greta would blush at the words that left Evans mouth. Soon they were done with dinner and had cleared their plates, Greta had gone up to her room to get some rest. Evans also decided that he needed sleep and went upstairs leaving only Derek in the sitting room.

He decided to go through his messages before he went to sleep, he had a friend help him do some diggings on the other Statesmanship candidate. It wouldn't take long for the drug cartel to find a new replacement. He went through his messages and only saw an photo sent by Parker, his friend, about an hour ago. He clicked on it and waited for it to load. He didn't take long and soon Derek was staring at a pic of El torento himself with a young lady whose face Derek could swear was very familiar, he had seen her somewhere before, he just couldn't pin where exactly.