Imaginary Friend

Abel looked down at his stomach, concerned.

“Why did I vibrate?”

Jacob smirked. “Haven't you ever heard my stomach rumble? That was yours.”

Raising both hands to press flat palms to his stomach, Abel looked confused. “When yours did that, it meant you were hungry.” He looked up. “I am hungry?”

“Yes.” Abel was just too cute. Too damn cute. Everything he did was so full of wonder and fresh-faced curiosity.

“What do I do now? You always...” The brunette trailed off, features becoming slightly more nervous. “You would eat. But...”

Jacob reached between them to grab Abel's shoulders, where he gently stroked up and down, squeezing lightly. “Yeah, you're gonna have to eat.”

“Food?” Abel asked, voice full of worry.

“Yeah,” Jacob chuckled. “Food. Come on, let's go to the kitchen.”

He turned to go, one hand slipping down to take hold of Abel's shaking fingers and tug him towards the doorway.

But Abel resisted, not budging at all, and Jacob glanced back at him. “What's wrong?”

Abel said nothing and only hung his head, shaking it slightly. “Nothing.”

Of course that was a lie, but Jacob didn't want to keep forcing Abel to be open. He would let the other tell him when he figured out exactly what was bothering him this time. Abel needed some space, some time.

In the kitchen, Jacob paused by the fridge. What to make? He laughed nervously, glancing sideways at Abel's patient face. “I uh...I feel like you should have this really extravagant meal for your first time eating, but...” He sighed and hung his head, feeling very useless. “I'm just such a mess in the kitchen.” Looking back up, he caught Abel watching him with a smile of his own. “But you already know that.”

Nodding, Abel approached the counter, resting both hands upon the white tiles. “Yes, whenever you cook, something always catches on fire. That never happened to your mother, or anyone else you've visited.” His smile was like a beacon, neither teasing or snide. Just, happy. “Only you. Why is that?”

Even though he was talking about Jacob's inadequacies in the kitchen, there was nothing low in that voice. Simple curiosity.

“I just can't cook.” Jacob admitted, not completely shamed that he had no culinary skills.

“Why not?”

“Ugh,” Jacob sighed, shrugging tiredly. “I just...can't. Don't know why. Maybe...Maybe I just don't pay enough attention. But, even when I manage to keep things from burning, they usually taste horrible.”

“Taste horrible?”

Creasing his brow, Jacob tried to think of how to explain the concept of taste. Then, he just shrugged again, looking to Abel with a sideways slanted smile. “Trust me, it's best if you learn taste by actually eating. There's no way I'll be able to come up with a way to describe it to you.”

Abel, though quite doubtful in expression, merely nodded, eyes narrowed.

“So...Hmm.” Jacob glanced around his kitchen. What did he even have?

There was really nothing of interest in his cabinets. Only some peanut butter and lots of soup. It was hard to burn soup. And even harder to make it taste bad since all the ingredients were already in the can.

Though, Jacob had set his pan on fire once...

That was best left as a secret.

Then again, Abel already knew about it, dammit. Jacob couldn't forget that Abel already knew.

“Alright,” He said resignedly. “I guess I can make soup...Uh, then again, I'm not exactly sure you should have something hot.”

Abel might burn his mouth, or inadvertently burn himself, if he spilled. And then, there was the action of swallowing. Could Abel do that? Could he swallow? Did he know how to?

“Abel?”

Perking to attention, Abel smiled. “Yes?”

“Do you know how to swallow?”

For a moment, Abel did nothing but stare back. Then, very slowly and very distinctly, a light pink blush crept up over his cheeks.

“You want me to...swallow?”

Jacob didn't really understand why Abel looked so embarrassed. Was he afraid he wouldn't be able to do it? Or just scared and shamed because of his fright, maybe. “Yes, can you do that for me? I want to make sure you can before you eat something.”

Abel's eyes went wide and the blush deepened. Then he nodded shortly. “Yes. Yes, I can do that for you. Right now?”

Of course right now, but Jacob just said, “Yeah.”

Abel slowly approached, wringing his hands nervously and he stopped in front of Jacob.

He didn't need to be so close, but Jacob didn't mind. He liked Abel close. And hey, he'd be able to see the other's throat better. To make sure it contracted right.

But Abel suddenly dropped to his knees and reached for the buckle of Jacob's belt, hands hovering over the metal of it. “I can undo it myself?”

“What?!” Jacob screeched, reeling away. “What are you doing?!”

Innocently, with his blush fading, Abel peered up at him. “You said you wanted me to swallow. I need you in my mouth.”

Jacob was flabbergasted. “No, wait, what?”

Abel was growing bolder, creeping forward on his knees to attempt at Jacob's belt again. But Jacob held out his hands, quickly hooking them under Abel's armpits and yanking him up to his feet. “No, just...No, that's not what I meant.” He let out an awkward chuckle, making sure Abel heard him correctly. “I didn't mean swallow like...that.”

“But that's what they say in your porn.”

Oh sweet christ. Jacob flushed, letting out a deep breath. “Oh dear, no. Okay, let's...Uh, let's just start over. Can you swallow like...your spit or something?”

“My spit?”

“Yeah, the fluid in your mouth. Your saliva. You know what that is.”

Abel took on a concentrated look, moving his mouth around, then he brightened. “Yes, I know. I have it!” He beamed.

More suppressed laughter. “Good, now, make it go down your throat. Swallow it.”

Abel's throat didn't move and all he did was stand there and concentrate. But nothing happened. His expression got more and more frustrated.

Without a word, Jacob moved forward and put his fingers to Abel's throat, appreciating how Abel didn't even flinch or move away, then he stroked downward, pressing lightly to the bump of Abel's throat. Reflexes kicked in and Abel suddenly gulped, a hollow sound emanating from his mouth.

“There we go...” Murmured Jacob, smiling triumphantly. “Just like that.”

Abel's mouth opened and he grunted. “Oh.”

“You got it? That was swallowing. Can you do it again?”

Abel concentrated again, snorting through his nose, then, with his lips tight, he gulped again, making that sound of heavy swallowing once more.

“Good. Good.” He rose his gaze to meet Abel's cautious happiness. “You did it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Abel leaped forward, jumping into Jacob's chest and hugging him tight, squealing softly in glee. “I did it!”

“Yeah. I'm proud of you.”

“Mmmm!” Abel hummed, not letting go his grip on Jacob's shoulders.

Then his stomach rumbled again, so hard that it make Jacob's belly reverberate from the force of it.

“Jeez, we need to get you some food. Isn't that bothering you?”

Stepping back, Abel frowned. “My stomach? I feel kinda...” He rubbed at the flat surface of his abdomen over his baggy shirt, the fabric moving with his fingers. “Empty. Hollow.”

That was pretty good for describing it. Jacob was impressed. “Yeah, that's not pleasant, right?”

Abel shook his head, frowning slightly.

“Well, let's fix that.”

He turned towards the fridge again, pulling open the door and and peering inside. “Okay...I've got...Uh...I've got...nothing. I've got nothing. Well...” He double-checked. “I've got butter. And bread. And...Oh, I know! I can just make us some sandwiches.”

“Sandwiches are good.”

Jacob laughed. “You totally don't even care.”

“No.”

Grabbing the loaf of bread and the jelly from the shelf, Jacob backtracked to the counter, dropping his items and also grabbing the peanut butter from the cabinet in front of him. Next he got a knife and two plates. There was nothing too difficult with making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and Jacob actually took great pride in the fact that he knew how to do it and could do it well.

In minutes, he had two perfect sandwiches, each on a plate, and cut into triangles. He even contemplated cutting off the crusts but then realized that doing that might be considered kinda childish. Even though, Jacob preferred them crustless.

He pushed the plate towards Abel, who'd come up to stand beside him at the counter. “Here you go. Your first food.”

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” He said clearly, without infliction.

“Yeah.” He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “Sorry it's nothing fancy. I mean, it's probably the only thing I have ingredients to make.”

Abel gave him a soft smile.

Jacob waited, but Abel didn't move towards his food. “Are you going to eat?”

Abel made a face. “I don't know how.”

Jacob lifted one brow. “You know how. Don't say that. You know very well how to eat. You've seen me do it.”

Abel grabbed his sandwich like it was a land mine, cautiously lifting it to his mouth and opening his lips. But then he paused.

No movement.

“What's wrong?”

Abel didn't answer. But his eyes were wide and his pupils dilated. His nostrils flared gently and Jacob watched as his mouth opened and a small trickle of spit dripped down his mouth.

Abel scowled and wiped at his chin with the back of his hand, moving the sandwich away to study it. “What's this? My mouth leaked.”

Jacob snickered. “I guess it's a good thing if you're drooling over a simple PB&J.”

“Drooling?”

“Yeah.”

“Like you do when you sleep?”

“Oh jesus.” Jacob facepalmed, snorting through his fingers. “Yeah, sure. Just take a bite.”

Abel nodded once with determination, moving the sandwich to his face and opening his mouth again. He took a bite and then froze, eyes going even wider.

“Mmph!” Abel shrieked suddenly, spewing bits of bread out onto Jacob's shirt, his face frozen in shock and jaw slack as he looked to him in amazement. “Mmph-Mmff!”

Jacob wasn't surprised by Abel's surprise. He'd known Abel would have a mini-fit at his first taste.

“Okay, now chew.” He reached out to move Abel's jaw up and down to show him how, then Abel did it without assistance, squeaking all the while.

Abel took another bite, smacking his teeth together and cramming more food past his lips. Not swallowing any of it yet and his cheeks bulging out from the pressure of the sandwich.

“Abel, you have to swallow.” Jacob said sternly, growing nervous. “You're gonna choke if you have too much in your mouth.”

Abel paused at the command, throat quivering in an obvious attempt to repeat the suggested action. After a few botched attempts, he finally managed, and Jacob watched carefully as that pale neck bounced, muscles helping the food slide through.

He breathed out in relief. “Good. You're doing good.”

Abel stuffed the remainder of his sandwich into his mouth, breath loud as he tried to breathe around it. Jacob watched him cautiously, one hand raised in an attempt to slow him down or give aid if Abel suddenly used the wrong tube. Quickly, he pulled a glass from the nearby cabinet and filled it with water, placing it next to Abel.

"Stop for a minute and have something to drink. It'll help the food go down."

Abel was still gulping, almost sounding like hiccups, then he picked up his glass, noticeably mimicking what he'd seen Jacob do, to be sure. With the glass at his lips, he let it flow into his mouth, and he choked briefly, coughing out water along with food and messing on the counter top.

Jacob was at his side immediately, heart racing, but Abel only coughed once more before his breathing evened out.

"Go slower, okay?"

"It surprised me. It felt like the bath, but in my mouth. And it's less...full than the peanut butter."

"Less thick, you mean."

"Yeah."

The rest of the simple meal passed without incident, and Abel gasped faintly after a particularly large last bite, his mouth moving with more rhythm now. One loud swallow and it was gone.

“What now?” Abel asked, sounding like his voice was thick.

Most likely from the peanut butter. Jacob pointed to Abel's water. “Have another drink first.” He ordered, not wanting Abel to cough or choke now that they'd finished.

Belatedly, Jacob noticed he hadn't even touched his own sandwich.

Abel picked up his glass gracefully, bringing it to his lips then, becoming awkward, he filled his mouth with the water, and his throat gulped reflexively, some spilling past his lips and down his chin. But, he drank it, emptying it and letting out a breath as he set his glass down.

“That was good!” He announced, licking at his teeth and lips like a dog.

“I'm glad you liked it.”

“Aren't you going to eat yours?” He asked, pointing to Jacob's untouched sandwich.

Jacob glanced at it. He was hungry, yes, and now he could focus on eating it. So, he picked it up with one hand and grabbed Abel's wrist with his other. “I'll eat it in the living room. Let's watch t.v. or something while you digest. I want to make sure you don't throw up or anything. So nothing too exciting.”

In the living room, Jacob released Abel's arm. “Let's just get comfy and see if anything catches your interest. A movie, or show, maybe a comedy.”

Abel looked dubious. But he came closer when Jacob turned to sit down. “Alright.”

He settled back against the cushions, splaying his legs wide and getting truly comfortable. If there was one place Jacob loved in his apartment more than others, it was right on his couch. His giant plushy couch with worn patches here and there and massive fluffy pillows. His favorite activity was napping on it.

In the previous weeks, Jacob hadn't spent much time on it. Most of his time in the apartment with Abel as his phantom lover was spent in his bedroom. Not even having sex, just...touching and feeling each other. Jacob had been glad to have a connection with his phantom.

Now, he wanted to share it. Enjoy it again. With Abel.

He patted the space beside him.

“Come on, join me.”


TO BE CONTINUED