He would laugh a little, and watch in the reflection of the television screen to see if he got some sort of reaction out of Sonny. It never did. He popped a kernel into Sonny’s mouth with gentle fingers, and he ate it as though he were some sort of robot. Joel gave up on interaction after that; he settled for stroking Sonny’s elbow with his thumb, through the blanket.
They made it through another hour of the movie before Sonny began to take deep breaths. Joel looked at him out of the corner of his eye. “You okay, man?”

“I love you Joel.”

Sonny’s voice was quiet, and timid. Hoarse from disuse. “I love you too, man.”

“No. Love love. In love. Always. Forever. I want to be with you. Wanna get married. Adopt a kid, or a cat, or just have Meowingtons. Anything. You’re my. My soul mate.” Sonny was tearing up and he was beginning to tremble. Joel hugged him tightly, nosed at his cheek gently.
“I get it, Skrills.” He hesitated, now. Joel had never been good with exposing his feelings - feelings were for girls. “I. I love you too, Sonny.”
“What about Lindsey?” he whispered. “You say you love her sometimes. Is it just to make her feel better about herself? Did you say it just so you wouldn’t hurt me?”
Joel shook his head, slowly. “I love Lindsey in a different way, kid. Love Lindsey because she’s a woman, a sweet one. She’s kind, and gentle, she makes me laugh. She’s a companion, more than a girlfriend. More than a marriage prospect.”
“Why do you love me?”
“Because you’re my goblin. And you always will be. You make me laugh, too. And you’re kind and you’re gentle. But, you’re different. I don’t love you because you’re a man. I love you because you’re Sonny. My Sonny. You’re sweet and caring and you fucking adore Meowingtons. You fill out the criteria.” Joel quirked a smile, here, to expose his joke. Sonny just kept looking at him with that measured gaze, that straight mouth. Joel leaned close and kissed him, softly. Sonny jumped a little, pulled away for a second. But then he was back, eating at Joel’s mouth like nothing had ever happened. They kissed like this for only a few moments, but it left Joel’s lips a little flushed, Sonny’s hair a little dishevelled from the way Joel had run his hands through it.
Sonny still didn’t smile. He turned his back to Joel’s chest again and went back to watching the movie. Joel kissed the top of his head. “I’ll marry you one day, Skrills. We’ll get old together. Die together. We’ll rule the world.”

And there, in the reflection of the television screen, Joel saw the first smile since the incident. Shy, and uncertain, but it was a smile. He kissed the spot below a stretched earlobe.

“Love you forever, Sonny Moore.”

(probably wasn't much like what you wanted. sorry.)