At first, when Leo's parents had him and Alejandro stay in their home before they were off to France the same day Leonardo was a little skeptical. These were the people who had treated his coming out as a random fact that didn't hold much weight or relevance. They never asked about Alejandro even after Leo had told them that was his boyfriend. They were also quick to drop their calls after Leo phoned in, making it impossible for Leo to hand Alejandro the phone to even say hello.

But after they brought up the offer two, three, and then four times after mentioning it the first time, Leonardo realized that they were serious and that was why he and Alejandro were in a Taxi to his family's home, that was a stone's throw from the international airport.

Leo was nervous. He still didn't understand why his parents would want them to come so suddenly. They had times like this when they would randomly stop snubbing someone, but they always had a reason for it—

"Is anything wrong?" Al asked, interrupting Leo's train of thought. The blond man smiled a bit, shaking his head as he muttered a low 'no' under his breath. He loosened his grip on Alejandro's hand, massaging the fingers he'd had in a bone-crushing hold just seconds ago. Al must have guessed he was tensed from the tightness of his grip.

When the cab came to a stop, Leo helped Alejandro out of the car as the driver brought down their bags. Leo looked at Alejandro up and down, thinking of how nice the man looked in jackets and nice-fitting pants.

Leonardo's parents lived in a Victorian-style house in a small neighborhood largely dominated by older folks. They had moved here after Leo got accepted into college. Leo never understood why his parents needed so much space. It was only the two of them and their servants in the unnecessarily large place.

When the driver was done setting their bags by the house's grand staircase he was paid. Leo watched, and Al listened in as the taxi drove off.

"Come on," the blond said, giving Al's shoulder a squeeze before leading him up the stairs to the front door. Leo pressed the doorbell, and the two waited for a response.

It took a few minutes and a few more rings, but soon enough the sound of footsteps approaching the door became evident. A dark-haired lady who seemed to be in her early twenties opened the door. She gave Leonardo a puzzled look for a bit before her eyes went wide. She curtsied before walking past him and Al to grab their bags. She must have realized who he was without needing to hear anything from him. Leo was the carbon copy of his father, and he never really knew how to feel about that.

He and Al were led to the living room. Every inch of the wall hosted a painting, and the two had to make sure they didn't push a random sculpture down or out of place. It was a testament to his parents being art collectors. One of their boring hobbies, like gardening. They both took a seat on the long sofa, and they sat in silence for about ten minutes, listening to the grandfather clock tick as the fan blades above them spun.

Leo looked up when the door to the living room swung open. The man and woman that were his parents walked in. His father had blond hair with green eyes, and his mother was a tiny woman with dirty blonde hair with deep brown eyes. Leo almost looked away in shock when his father smiled at him. His mother gave him and Alejandro a little wave. All of this was weird, but Leo couldn't pinpoint what was going on.

"It's an honor to catch you two before your flight," Leo's mother said as she took a seat on a sofa and adjusted the pleats of her teal-colored skirt. "Alejandro wasn't it?" the woman asked, and Leo blinked, turning his attention to Al. The blind man had a puzzled look on his face, but Leo's parents just kept staring at him with wide smiles. It was odd, they weren't interested in getting to know him just a month ago.

"We've been watching your recorded performances. You play very well!"

Of course. Leo thought as things fell into place. It all made sense now. Leo's parents were snobs, but they were also schmoozers who latched on to anyone they felt had the least bit of social importance.

"Oh," Al muttered, not knowing what to say.

"It's amazing. Your playing's like nothing we've ever heard before," Leo's father added to the words of his wife. Leo caught his father's gaze and the man smiled at him, making him look away. Leo wasn't sure if he was glad about the outcome or embarrassed. His parents sucked up to Al throughout the evening. They even got him to play the grand piano they had up in the study for them. There was a feeling of relief mixed with shame that washed over Leo when it was time for Al and him to drive to the airport.

He wanted to say something when he was in the taxi with Alejandro, but he wasn't sure where to start. An apology or a conversation leading up to one?

"Your parents—"

"Are snobs, I know," Leo said, cutting Al off. The blond turned to look at Al before looking away again as he muttered an apology. He was so uncomfortable. Maybe taking his parents up on their offer was a mistake. On one hand, they liked Al, but it was painfully obvious that it was conditional and superficial. If the pianist hadn't gathered a bit of fame from his unconventional playing during the state contest his parents wouldn't have given him another thought.

"It's okay," Al said, reaching out for Leo's hand and giving it a squeeze. "You're not them," the man continued as a small smile took form on his full lips.

Not anymore, I hope. Leo said to himself as he looked away from Al to watch the passing scenery through the window. He had been unbearable when he had started college, and he still retained a bit of that snobbish behavior. His friends poked fun at him about it from time to time, but they would never know how aggravated and self-conscious it made him feel. He knew how annoying his parents were. He didn't want to be them, and some days when he felt like a copy of them his mood would be ruined, and he would wonder if everyone secretly hated him and his behavior.

"You're different when you're with Al." He remembered Marie saying. He smiled a bit. He couldn't help but agree. He put so much effort to present as a better person when he was with Alejandro, and that effort flowed into every other aspect of his life and interactions with people. He was friendlier, more approachable, and an all-around better person because of him.

Leo's smile widened at the realization. He looked to his side, finding that Alejandro was taking a nap on his shoulder. "I love you," he muttered in the lowest of tones, resting his head on top of Al's as he reached out to comb the man's hair with his fingers.