Ink & Flowers by J.K. Pendragon

on his face.
    "Luke, we don't blame you," Marabeth cut in. "But this Liam man is definitely a bad influence."
    "His name is Cooper , Auntie."
    "It doesn't matter what his name is! He's an ugly brute, and I think Brody was right about him being a ... well, you know."
    "Fag," finished Gloria with pursed lips. She raised her arched brows at Luke. "Don't look at me like that, Luke, I can use whatever words I want, especially if they're deserved. I don't believe in people making excuses to act inappropriate, you know that."
    Marabeth cut in before Gloria could go off on one of her tangents. "The point is that just because you're an adult, doesn't necessarily mean you know what's best for you. Now, I can see the influence this man has had on you, even if you can't—"
    "What, you mean besides standing up for myself and admitting that I might not be exactly how you want?" said Luke, his voice suddenly louder, as if the burn of indignation had risen up his throat and cleared away the lump there.  "And anyway, what is so bad about Cooper being gay? About me—"
    "You know perfectly well what's wrong with that," spat Marabeth. "It's disgusting."
    Gloria nodded vigorously.
    Luke shook his head, his fists balled in anger now, not fear. "I am not disgusting."
    The side of Marabeth's mouth turned up, but her eyes were cold. "Of course you're not, sweetie, you're not gay."
    "How do you know that?"
    "Because, Luke, you're a good boy!" Marabeth sighed, looking frustrated. "We're just trying to help."
    "Well ... you can help by telling me there's nothing wrong with the way I am, and that you're going to let me live my life and make my own choices."
    "If we said that we'd be lying," replied Gloria. "We care about you, and we'll always be involved in your life. And besides that, the gay thing is just completely inappropriate, and it is disgusting, too. I mean, what would we tell people?"
    "No one else cares! You two are just ... you're horrible!" His heart jumped as he realised he had just insulted them, and the look on Marabeth's face was terrifying.
    "Luke," she said, her lips white. "We are trying to help you."
    "No, you're not, you're trying to insert yourself into something that has nothing to do with you, and make me feel bad for something that doesn't hurt anyone!" He was going to cry soon. He could feel the stinging in his eyes, and the lump in his throat was back. "So what if I happen to like men? There's nothing wrong with it—"
    "Yes, there is," said Marabeth. "You're going down a dangerous path, Luke. You don't think I know how dangerous it is? I work at a funeral home, I see lots of dead gay men. They get AIDS, or ... or they get beaten up, and their families wish they had done more to prevent it."
    "You don't know anything!" Luke brought a hand to his mouth to cover a sob. "I'm being safe, okay? Cooper will protect me."
    They exchanged a look. "I don't think so," said Marabeth. "I think it's time you came with us, Luke."
    "I'm not going. I want you to leave."
    "Well, I'm sorry, but we're not leaving unless you come with us."
    "Cooper!" Luke yelled. "Cooper, please—"
    Cooper was there in an instant, as if he had been listening for Luke's call. "Everything okay? Luke, what—are you crying?"
    Marabeth stood and turned on him. "This doesn't concern you. We are leaving with Luke, and you are not to contact him again."
    "I'm not going with them," said Luke firmly to Cooper. He'd managed to force the crying down for the moment, and his voice came out stronger than he'd hoped. 
    Cooper nodded at Luke, and moved to stand between him and his aunts. "Yeah, I think you two had better leave."
    "Excuse me, are you threatening us?" said Marabeth.
    "What? No!"
    "Because I don't think the police would take kindly to a," Gloria gestured at Cooper, "a brutish queer threatening two women."
    Cooper breathed out heavily through his nose, and he seemed to increase in size. "Okay, one, I don't appreciate being called that. And two, I am asking you