21. Volt #4
“Huh. My father made it sound like the only reason people gave compliments was to butter people up so they’d invest in your product or something. Or put out for him, I guess.”
“Well, that might be the only reason that he gives compliments. How many failed marriages has he had?”
“Five.” Wallace snorted, finally seeing the humor of the situation.
“But you’re my pretty pansy. And that’s not going to be your future.” Not that they’d really talked about their future together, but Volt wanted everything with this boy, if it could really be his. Marriage. A home. Maybe kids, if Wallace ever brought it up.
Mostly he wanted a happy sub.
Wallace shook his head, still wrapped up in wonder, but about a very different topic. “I still can’t believe that people say stuff like that and they really mean it.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Volt kissed across Wallace’s cheek, ending with a brush of his lips.
“Most of the time, almost all of the time, people mean it when they give compliments. So I guess Daddy has a third rule for you, now. If someone gives you a compliment, I want you to believe that it’s real, and accept the compliment gracefully. ”
“How do I do that, please?” Wallace asked.
Shit. He really did need all of this stuff spelled out. “How do you believe it?”
“No, uh, I can work on that. How do I accept it gracefully?”
“Ah, well.” That was much easier. “First you say ‘thank you.’ Then you can add something if it makes sense, like, ‘I enjoyed the project.’ You can also give credit to someone else if you should, like ‘my team did great work, and I enjoyed collaborating with them.’ Then, if it makes sense, compliment them in return.”
“How do I know if it makes sense?”
“That’s when we get back to that genuine compliment thing. Only do it if you have a compliment that you actually want to give them. If you’ve noticed something about them that you admire or appreciate.”
“Okay, Daddy. Uh, thank you for those clear rules. I can do this.” Wallace looked determined, though Volt was certain that he was still running over each of the rules in his mind, cataloguing and practicing them so he could get up the nerve to try them out.
“I know you can, sweetheart,” Volt promised.
“Or I wouldn’t ask it of you. I also want you to know that I’ve seen you do these things all the time with me, Angel, and Magnolia, as well as the vendors at the park.
You give compliments freely, and you reach out to others when you feel safe.
These are skills that you already have. You’re just working on expanding the group of people you can do this with. ”
“Are you sure, Daddy? I won’t look stupid?”
“Absolutely. And here’s the most important part: no matter what happens, no matter what response you get, I will be proud of you.
Maybe you try to make friends with someone and they don’t return that interest. Maybe you give someone a compliment and they seem uncomfortable because they don’t know that you mean it yet.
Maybe you reach out and someone’s even rude or mean.
I want you to know that it doesn’t matter.
This isn’t about anybody else except you trying things out and me being proud of you for following my rules. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Wallace agreed gratefully. “So now I have five rules,” he summarized. “Well, five and a half. Lunch, break, bedtime, making friends, complimenting someone, and accepting a compliment if someone gives me one.”
“That’s right, sweet boy.” Volt loved going over the list, too. “And you send me a text for each one.” He wanted to know every time Wallace accomplished something, at each moment of the day. These were the chains that bound them together, sweeter than honey and stronger than any steel.
Maybe it didn’t matter that Wallace was lying to him about his apartment.
“Of course, Daddy. And you’ll tell me I’m doing a good job?”
“Absolutely.”
Wallace sighed, resting against him. “Thank you, Daddy, really. I know this is part of the kink but… really, it means so much to me. You’re making me a better person.”
“Wrong,” Volt told him. “You’re already a magnificent person. I’m just helping you to let everyone else see it.”
Wallace shook his head, denying it, though at least he hadn’t said it out loud.
“Nope, try again,” Volt teased. “I just said, ‘You’re a magnificent person,’ so you say…”
“Uh…” Wallace’s face colored prettily. “I say, ‘Thank you, Daddy. And you’re the best Daddy in the whole, wide world!’” He threw his arms around Daddy’s neck.
“Hmmm,” Volt pretended to consider. “I don’t know if that compliment is specific enough.”
“Oh,” Wallace corrected, eyes merry. “I meant that you’re the best Daddy in the whole, wide world because you’re better than all the other Daddies.”
Then Wallace kissed his way down Volt’s cheek to lick at his ear, eliciting a moan that Volt couldn’t hold back.
He loved how bold Wallace was growing, able to take what he wanted and tease back in return. A few months ago, Wallace wouldn’t have even realized this was a joke, and would have tried to apologize.
“Try again.” Volt dug his fingers into Wallace’s ribs, eliciting a string of giggles.
“No, Daddy! No tickles!”
Volt didn’t let up, enjoying that magical sound.
“I mean,” Wallace spoke through his laughter, “that you’re the best Daddy because you take care of me and know what’s best for me and you love me.”
“That’s right.” Volt relented, pulling Wallace close until they got lost in each other’s eyes. “I love taking care of you, and I’ll always try to guide you toward what’s best for you. And I do love you. More than I can say.”
They kissed again, long and slow and sweet.
And if Volt hadn’t said all of the things that he meant to today, well… There would be other chances, right?