Reputations Matter Most | Fedex Fanfiction

Chapter 28

Fitz could not stop thinking about his first kiss with Dex. That was the only thing on his mind as his mother was pouring tea for him in a cup.
They were sat in the living room, alone. Biana was doing her own thing in her room while Alden was in his office, doing some paperwork. 

Della looked at Fitz who kept brushing his fingers against his lips. Della knew something had happened at Dex's. And she had an idea of what happened but didn't want to force Fitz to come out.
"How was dinner at Rimeshire?" Della asked.
 Fitz snapped out of his thoughts and smiled as his mother handed him his cup of freshly poured tea. Fitz blew his tea before he took a sip of it.
"It was pleasant. Their dinners are a lot more lively than ours." Fitz said, setting his cup down.
Della hummed.
"And how are Kesler and Juline? Well, I hope?" Della questioned as she blew on her own tea now. 
"Kesler is as mischievous as ever and Juline seems to be getting more and more tired. But they both seem happy." Fitz responded. 

Della looked at Fitz and Fitz ran his fingers through his hair.
"And how is Dex?" Della asked.
Fitz couldn't help but smile at the thought of Dex.
"He's doing good." Fitz smiled at his mother.
"Yeah, he's... great."
Della bit her lower lip gently and sighed softly.

"He must be a good friend since you were invited for dinner." Della stated.
"Mmh, he has become a dear friend to me." Fitz nodded.
"It seems dearer than Keefe. You hang out with Dex a lot more nowadays." Della said, sipping her tea.
"Well Keefe is forever my best friend, but yeah, Dex has become dearer than him." Fitz shrugged, nodding.
"Yes, well I presume it must've been nice when he kissed you goodbye too." Della said, sighing out.
"Oh well that... that was delightf-" Fitz began.
Fitz froze and he looked at his mother who averted eye contact but was smirking as she sipped her tea again.
"You... knew..." Fitz said.
"Did Biana say something?"
Della laughed softly as she set her cup down.

Della turned in her seat, facing Fitz. Fitz felt his anxiety rise as Della shuffled closer and she cupped his face.
"Biana did not say a thing." Della said softly.
"It was your fidgets and expressions. I raised you Fitz, I know a lot more than you think."
Fitz gulped as he stared into his mother's eyes.
"S-so... are you... disappointed?" Fitz asked, biting his lower lip.
Della furrowed her eyebrows.
"Disappointed? My dear, why would I be disappointed?" Della questioned softly as she caressed Fitz's cheek.
"I love you the way you are. You are my son, and as long as you aren't committing atrocious felonies, I am proud of you."
Fitz felt his eyes well up.

He never knew he needed to hear that from his mother but he did. After seeing how open and proud the Dizznee family was, he needed his mother to tell him that it was okay to like boys, that she was proud of him for being himself.
Fitz didn't typically do this but he embraced his mother into a hug and squeezed her tight as he began to sob into her shoulder. Della smiled as she hugged Fitz back, holding him close.
"Oh my sweet boy..." Della sighed softly, kissing his head and rubbing his back.
"It's okay, love. Let it out, I know... you must've been so worried..."
Fitz wanted to cry harder. His mother's comfort was the best, her sweet words, he knew she meant them, he knew his mother would always care for him. No matter what.

They stayed like that until Fitz stopped crying and he backed away. Fitz wiped his face dry and Della smiled as she cupped his face again.
"You've been afraid that it'd ruin your image, huh?" Della questioned, wiping away any tears that managed to roll down Fitz's cheeks.
 Fitz nodded, sniffling.
"It's just--I thought I was a freak..." Fitz said, his voice slightly cracking.
Della frowned and kissed Fitz's forehead.
"Oh my love..." Della sighed softly against Fitz's forehead as she kept gently pecking it.
Fitz gulped and he took a deep breath.

"So... you don't care that he's not as prestigious as us?" Fitz questioned.
Della laughed softly.
"Oh honey, I don't care he's a boy... of course I don't care that he isn't as prestigious as our family." Della said, caressing Fitz's cheek once more.
"I'd like you to invite Dex over one day. For dinner with us."
Fitz felt his anxiety rise.
"What about father-?" Fitz began.
"We'll invite him when your father is at work. Okay?" Della smiled.
"I know... that he'll be less understanding. So, we'll keep this a secret from him. But you are allowed to bring Dex home and be free to act like a couple when your father is not around. I'd love to see Dex as well, and be able to treat him as he is your boyfriend. "

Fitz really couldn't believe it.
Fitz couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you." Fitz said.
"Don't thank me Fitz, I'm just being a mother and acting as a parent should in this situation." Della smiled.
"Now, tell me how this all started. I'd like to know as much as you are willing to tell me."
So, that's what Fitz did. He began to tell his mother about how it started, what happened for him to realise his emotions for Dex as well.

*****

Fitz smiled as he finally connected to Dex on his imparter and seen the small image of his boyfriend appear.
"Hey." Fitz said, running his fingers through his hair.
"Hey Fitzy-" Dex began, using a teasing tone.
"Woah, you look like you've been crying. Are you okay?"
Dex frowned, as he stared at Fitz through the image. Fitz let out a laugh.
"Haha, uhm... I'll tell you all about it at Foxfire tomorrow. It's good, I promise." Fitz said.
"I'm just... I'm really happy right now. And I can't stop thinking about earlier."
Fitz bit his lower lip and Dex felt his cheeks warm up.

"... Right." Dex said, feeling flustered.
"I can't stop thinking about it either. I mean, me and my dad sort of cut the experiment short because I was too distracted."
Fitz laughed.
"Haha, was there a lot of explosions then?" Fitz asked.
"Nearly blew both of my eyes out." Dex grimaced.
"Awh, well I'm glad you survived with both of your eyes." Fitz said, blowing a kiss at Dex.
Dex smiled and rolled his eyes. "Ha-ha."


"So, we gonna talk about the whole reason why you didn't want to kiss before?" Fitz asked.
Dex took a deep breath.
"Ugh, you want me to go into a lot of detail and become all depressed?" Dex asked.
"... Short and simple is okay with me." Fitz said.
"But, one day if you're comfortable with going in more detail, you can share it."
Dex nodded and smiled.
"Thanks Fitzy." Dex said.
"Mmh of course." Fitz smiled.
"So...?"
Dex took a deep breath.
"Basically when I thought I liked Sophie, she kissed me and there were no feelings there. So I was sort of afraid I wouldn't feel anything with you." Dex said, rubbing his neck.
Fitz frowned.
"Man, that was the short version and I still feel depressed after hearing that." Fitz said.
Dex glared at Fitz and Fitz smiled.
"Sorry! Okay, I'll be serious." Fitz said, raising a hand in defense.


"... Okay, I get why you didn't want to kiss before. So what changed your mind?"
Dex's cheeks turned red.
"The way you were really understanding and sweet about my boundaries made me wanna kiss ya." Dex mumbled.
"So, yeah. Plus it was good practice so I could see if I should've ended our relationship early if nothing was there instead of wasting your time."
Fitz hummed.
"Well, looks like you aren't wasting my time." Fitz smiled.
Dex smiled back.
"Looks like I'm not." Dex sighed softly.


"So, did you tell Biana all about what happened before you left?"
"Mmh, not yet. I spent most of the time with my mother, having tea and... talking."
"Oh, that sounds nice!"
"Yeah...it was really nice."


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Word count: 1362