#aftoncest
William finds out about Michael skipping classes when he gets a call from the school. Thinking nothing of it save for another act of teenage rebellion, he just punishes the boy as per routine, warning him that he'll regret it if he gets another call. He mostly forgets

about it because the calls from Michael's school stop and he assumes the boy is finally fixing his attendance. Until Henry approaches him at work one day, pulling him aside for a moment of his time to discuss something important with him. William is obviously confused by this

because he doesn't remember there being any incidents or otherwise troublesome events for them to discuss. He can't hide his surprise when Henry asks him about whether he's got any extended family visiting or maybe some relative he's close to, which only makes him more confused.

"I don't know how to ask this, but...Does Michael have an uncle he's close to? Tall man, pretty slim build, looks to be in maybe his sixties?" Henry looks even more concerned at the way William furrows his brows. "No, we don't have any relatives close by. Why are you asking?"

Henry explains that he assumed they had extended family visiting since he's seen Michael with said man before, as well as another middle aged man at the mall before. "I just thought I should let you know about this. I've never seen those men before, and I wanted to inform you."

William thanks him for telling him, but assures him it's nothing to worry about. Henry leaves to go back to working and William is left thinking about what the hell Michael is up to now. He's skipping school to go to the mall with strangers? Not to mention, men old enough to be

his father's age, even old enough to be his grandfather? He doesn't understand the reasoning behind why his teenage son would be 'hanging out' with these people, but he sure as hell wants to know now. These are the two that Henry has seen him with, how many more could he have

been around before that they don't know about? William thinks about it for the rest of the day at work, and when he gets home he calls the school to find out a little more about his son's little adventures. He wonders what could possibly be more important than him simply going to

class, even if he knows the boy is just going to screw around all day. He'd rather Michael not pay attention all day than not show up at all and have the school on him for it. Turns out these little outings of his are a lot more frequent than he thought. Some days Michael skips

multiple of his classes, and some days he doesn't even show up. William knew about the skipping but not about the complete absences. He decides to confront him about it, sitting on the couch in the livingroom and waiting for the boy to come home. The moment he hears the door open

he turns to face towards the boy, tone stern. "Michael." He knows what Henry was telling him is true by the way that Michael tenses up immediately at the sound of his voice. "Come here." He urges him, no patience in his voice whatsoever. The boy is quick to stand in front of him

and William can just tell he's nervous purely by the way Michael speaks. "Yes father?" His father pats the couch next to him. "Sit down. We're going to have a conversation." He makes sure not to let his anger show in his tone, though Michael looks slightly scared nonetheless.

William clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "I spoke to Mrs. Brown today on the phone. Do you mind explaining to me the reason behind why you still continue to skip classes after I've specifically told you what would happen if you did so again?" He asks, such patience in his

voice that it makes Michael sweat. "I...I'm sorry, father. It won't happen again-" The boy stammers, not getting the chance to finish his sentence before he's interrupted by his father. "You're right. I'm certain it won't happen again." Michael looks visibly relieved to hear that

but that relief quickly fades when William smiles, that smile that always lets him know he's really messed up. "Henry approached me today with some rather interesting information. You wouldn't know anything about why he said he's seen you at the mall during school hours with

strangers, would you?" He asks, and he immediately knows he's got him cornered at the way Michael's expression changes. "I don't know if this is some act of rebellion, or why you're doing this, but you're going to explain yourself right now while I still have the patience."

Michael opens his mouth before closing it again and William simply stares at him with an annoyed look on his face. "It's nothing bad, I promise. I just wanted some spending money and they pay me to spend time with me, that's all there is to it!" That certainly interests William.

"My teenage son is going on dates with men older than me for spending money? I would have been less disappointed had you said you were whoring yourself out." Michael winces at that, visibly hurt by that statement, though he bites his tongue. "Tell me something, Michael."

He sighs. "Are you stupid? I can't fathom how idiotic you would have to be to do something like this. I would have expected you to know better, but alas you disappoint me again." His words are thought out carefully to get through to the boy that he's messed up this time, that it

won't be as simple as an apology and empty promise to do better, to not repeat the same mistake again. William won't buy it this time, and they both know. "No, father. I'm not stupid." The boy replies meekly. "Mmm, no, you're not. I don't buy your story. I think you've got this

all carefully planned out. You went as far as to somehow prevent me finding out you were still missing school and if it weren't for Henry, I would be none the wiser, so don't tell me all the effort was for some extra pocket money. Tell me, what are you /actually/ doing?"

He can read the boy like a book. Michael always gives him that same look when he's lying about his intentions to his face, though he has to give him credit for the convincing act. "Fine. I'm going on dates with them. What does it matter to you? I'm old enough to decide myself."

There's a strong tension between the two of them, both of them going silent at this revelation. William looks deep in thought, arms crossed over his chest. He hadn't expected to hear his son admit he was willingly going out on dates with them. He didn't care about Michael's love

life as it didn't concern him so long as the boy stayed in line, but the younger man had already been more than twice his son's age. He couldn't fathom why the teenager had chosen this. The boy was admittedly not half bad looking and if the Valentine's Day gifts Michael received

and promptly threw away were anything to go off of, there wasn't a lack of interest from his classmates' side. If he had to, why did he have to arrange these dates to be specifically during the time he was supposed to be at school? The fact Michael had decided to do it in public

where he was susceptible to gossip from anyone who recognized the boy and knew their family puzzled him. He'd been smart enough to get away with it for this long, managing to hide it from everyone, but he couldn't even think to hide? For a moment, William thought about why he

hadn't chosen to go somewhere private, but he quickly realized this was rather the better outcome as the very idea of his precious son alone with a stranger twice his age made him feel sick. "It seems all my efforts and attempts to discipline you properly up until now have been

in vain, but don't worry. You will learn this time, I will make sure of it." It was obvious through William's tone that he had every intention of keeping that promise and that Michael wasn't going to get away with a minor punishment this time. As much trouble as he was, the

thought of losing Michael because he'd gotten kidnapped or murdered on one of these dates made him want to grab the boy and shake him firmly until he could get obedience through his incredibly thick skull. The fact was that while he was incredibly angry at the boy for causing him

even more trouble, he also felt jealousy. As much as William had attempted to bury those feelings deep down, he'd been having perverse thoughts about the boy for years, and the thought of some disgusting old creep getting his hands on /his/ son made him clench his teeth. He could

only thank Henry for telling him when he did. Who knows how long Michael could have gotten away with it if he hadn't looked into it. But this still begged the question, why was Michael doing this in the first place? "Help me understand, Michael. Your reputation tells me you've

got plenty of people dying for a chance with you, and yet you choose somebody old enough to be your father? Did you want somebody with experience? Is this the way you choose to rebel? I can't wrap my head around it." He sighs, shaking his head. "My boy, why do you have to go

against everything I tell you? I wouldn't have to discipline you nearly as much if you simply behaved as I ask of you." William's words sounded almost tender, now sounding more like a worried father than the man Michael was so used to who beat him bloody if he dared so much as

have an attitude with him. It made Michael hang his head in shame at the way his stomach /fluttered/ at those words. He'd craved his father's love for so long, but the only attention he could ever get were bruised skin and bloody lips. How could he explain it to him? How could he

admit the reason he sought out men so much older than him, who probably wouldn't even care about him more than his father ever did? Michael had gone through a long phase of questioning everything, of feeling disgusted with himself for craving intimacy, eager to receive the

slightest bit of praise and affection from anyone who would give it, but that eventually was not enough. He craved the love only his father could give him but did not, the love he was too ashamed to ask for, the kind that would fill the hole in his deepest desires. No, Michael

was not looking for someone experienced. He didn't crave crazy sexual experiences or romance. He wanted someone who would never be his father but could almost act as if he were. The boy had been so scared for so long, lost and confused as to why he wished those hands that bruised

every inch of his body would comfort him after, bring him pleasure so sweet it would make his head spin. He craved his father. He wanted his father so badly, but he knew that was something he shouldn't even be considering. Michael had kept those feelings buried for so very long

but all the stress, daily struggles and hormones made the desire only show itself more and more often to the point that he felt sick with envy every time he saw the close relationship his friends had with their own fathers. He wanted to have that, wanted even more than just that.

Michael knew the idea was stupid. He knew how dangerous it was to throw himself at strangers, but he didn't want to even consider how badly the rejection would hurt if he ever told his father about those filthy thoughts that had been running rampant in the boy's head for years.

Even if they hurt him, he imagined it wouldn't be worse than William's worst beatings. It was only a matter of time before that too would no longer sate Michael's desires, and he'd be forced to find another way to deal with it. His father's smooth voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Talk to me, Michael. What is it that you want? What were you aiming to accomplish?" the tone alone was enough to make him shudder, sending a delightful shiver down the boy's spine. Michael swallowed hard, hands shaking, his throat so dry, but he could no longer keep it in.

"I want to be loved," Michael spoke softly. "I want you. I /need/ you, I've never needed anything more in my entire life. It's not fair. Why can't I have you? Why won't you look at me?" His breath hitched, the boy struggling to hold back tears. It was so difficult to admit these

feelings directly to his father's face, not when he was looking at him with such an unreadable expression. Michael would give anything to be able to see what William was thinking right now. He didn't give him much time to dwell on it. "Is that really what you want? Is that why

you've been acting this way?" His father questioned. "How long have you been hiding these feelings? It must have been so difficult for you, my sweet boy." A hand reached out to cup Michael's chin, making the boy look into his eyes. "If you craved my love so badly, all you had to

do was ask. You drive me crazy, Michael, in more ways than one. You've been torturing me for years with how close you are, just barely out of reach, yet always inaccessible. There's no need to beg for strangers' attention when I'm right here." His father smiled at him and it made

the poor boy's body tingle, the feeling akin to thousands of fireworks going off inside him. He was so touch-starved and depraved that it felt like the biggest honour he could ever get. Hearing the praise directly from his father's lips was better than sex and the way it made him

feel was more intense than he could ever imagine it being. William leaned in to press their lips together, soft and gentle. As much as he would have loved to absolutely devour Michael right then and there, the way the boy was shaking from praise alone made the chance he would

straight up faint if he made him any more embarrassed seem very likely. His father looked directly into his eyes as soon as he withdrew from the kiss, the adoration there now replaced with a stern look. "From now on, you will not lie to me ever again. You will come to me if you

have problems with anything, regardless of how ashamed or embarrassed you are. Do you think you can handle a man? Prove that you are mature enough and I will give you what you want. I can fulfil all your needs and more. I can love you more than anyone else ever could." He smirked

as he caressed Michael's cheek. "All you have to do is be a good boy. Understood?" William wished he could capture the expression on his son's face right now, but he would make sure to imprint it in his memory forever. "Ye...Yes..." The boy mumbled, his face flushed a red tint,

staring back at his father with eyes full of love. Love that was all directed only towards him. He was sure that nothing else would ever matter again so long as he could see William look at him with those adoring eyes once more, and Michael couldn't be happier with this outcome.

No matter how much he tried to hide from the truth, it was now apparent to him. He loved his daddy, and his daddy loved him too.