Author: Kristbethke

**That Ivan, he loves to give me a challenge.  And here’s the results of his latest mission.**

Something was obstructing his vision, so Aaron walked right into the lamppost.  He stumbled, his feet not working quite right, and he reached out to steady himself.  The thing that had caused him to falter was also his savior, and Aaron hooked an arm around the post and leaned.

“Thank you,” he mumbled, words not quite intelligible.  He patted the metal.  “You’re a good friend.  I’ll call you George.”

With a heavy sigh and a squint, Aaron leaned more heavily and tried to figure out why he could only see out of one eye.  He reached up and batted at the fringe, confused when it just swung and didn’t disappear.

“Aaron.”  The voice was low and commanding.  Aaron tried to look around, but something was still in his way.  Suddenly his view was unobstructed.  Aaron’s face lit up.

“Gabe!”  Aaron struggled to right himself.  “Look George!  It’s Gabe!”

Gabe gave a chuckle.  “Who’s George?”

“My friend here.”  Aaron tried to pat the lamppost, missed, and would have smashed into it face first if Gabe hadn’t suddenly grabbed him and held him close. Aaron took a deep breath of Gabe scented air.  Fuck, he loved the way the man smelled.

“Why do you have a sombrero?” Aaron asked.

“I took it off your head,” Gabe answered.  A little crease appeared between his eyes and Aaron found it ridiculously adorable.  “Just how drunk are you, bro?”

Aaron shrugged.  “There was tequila.  The good stuff.  Your hat looks like Manny’s.  Did you get it at the same time Manny did?”

Gabe gave a little sigh. “I should have known Manny was involved.”  He slid the string of the sombrero over his arm, then reached out to steady Aaron until he was upright.  Aaron gave him an appreciative smile and most of his weight.  Gabe was smaller by a few inches, and Aaron slung his arm around the man’s shoulders.

“All right, champ,” Gabe said, his voice low.  “My car is a block over.  Let’s get you home.”

Aaron nodded, and immediately regretted it.  He groaned, and started walking.  At the last minute, he remembered to call out, “Bye George!”

Before Aaron knew what was happening, he was sitting in a car.  He looked around, a little dazed, and realized he knew this car.  He knew the dashboard, and the way it smelled.  It smelled like Gabe, and since that was his favorite scent ever, he knew it well.  He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply.  He felt a hand in his hair, and he turned toward it, nuzzling into the warm palm.

“You are the most affectionate drunk.”  Gabe’s voice was filled with amusement.

“I love you,” Aaron said fervently.

Gabe’s deep chuckle sounded loud in the confines of the car.  “Yeah, I know.”

“No,” Aaron said earnestly.  He forced his eyes open, then reached up to take Gabe’s palm between his own.  “I like, really love you.  A lot.  I think about you all the time.  I want to be more than your friend, Gabe.”

Gabe blinked, then blinked again.  Slowly he pulled his hand away, and with the same careful movements, he turned the key in the ignition.

“If you still remember this in the morning,” Gabe responded quietly, his voice barely audible over the purr of the engine, “then tell me again when you’re sober.”

Aaron nodded fast, then groaned and clutched his head.  It felt too big for his neck.  It shouldn’t feel that way.  He leaned back again.

“And tell me if you’re gonna get sick so I can pull over, for fuck’s sake.”

***

Aaron’s tongue felt like it was too big for his mouth.  He swallowed and grimaced. His mouth tasted like he’d been gnawing on garbage.  Slowly he sat up, his head pounding and threatening to roll off his shoulders.  His stomach roiled when he was upright, but he managed to quell the feeling.  When he was reasonably sure he wouldn’t fall over, Aaron stood and shuffled to the bathroom.

He emptied his bladder, then washed his hands.  Catching sight of himself in the mirror above the sink, Aaron blanched.  He looked like death warmed over.  Dark circle under his eyes, his skin sallow in the artificial light.

Tequila was evil.

Aaron found some aspirin in the medicine cabinet and downed three tablets.  He guzzled water straight from the tap, suddenly thirsty beyond belief.  When he was finished, he brushed his teeth and washed his face.  Done, he felt marginally more human.  Thank God it was Saturday.  He needed more sleep.  He flipped off the light and shambled back to bed.

The bed with someone sleeping on the opposite side.

Aaron sucked in a breath. How long had he fantasized about Gabe in his bed?  Years if he were honest.  He was curled up on his side, one hand tucked under his cheek. The man looked angelic in sleep.  Aaron wanted to slip back beneath the sheets and cover Gabe’s body with his own.

The instant Aaron’s ass touched the mattress, Gabe’s head jerked up.  He blinked blurry brown eyes at Aaron.  His voice was thick with sleep when he asked, “You all right, A?”

It was the blinking that jogged Aaron’s memory. He’d been pretty drunk last night, but that didn’t mean he didn’t remember.  He took a deep breath, stared into the eyes of his best friend, and told him the absolutely truth.  “I’m in love with you Gabe.  I should have told you before.  Tell me I didn’t just ruin our friendship.”

Gabe’s pink mouth curled into a soft smile.  “No, Aaron.  You didn’t ruin anything.”

**My Ivan, he challenged me to double drabble.  So inspired by him, here’s 200 words.  Enjoy**

 

The house was silent, which fit his morose mood. It had been a bad day of epic proportions, proceeded by several bad weeks. Murphy’s Law was hard at work.   His luck had to change soon.  He had been trying so hard to do the right thing, the good thing, and everything he touched seemed to backfire. He pulled off his tie and threw it with vehemence across the room. With a heavy sigh, he sat on the couch. He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and rubbed hard.

The soft strains of music reached his ears.  It took Christopher a minute to realize something was playing. He sat up straighter, straining to hear. Gradually the volume rose, until he could make out the chords. Instantly, his eyes welled up and he closed them tightly to savor the lyrics. The tears leaked out, tracking down his cheeks. A soft touch on his face had him leaning in. He knew who it was, and he knew why his boyfriend had chosen this song. Christopher curled into John’s arms and let Art Garfunkel’s voice wash over him, knowing he was cared for and he didn’t have to face this alone.

**I was issued a drabble challenge. I picked up the gauntlet.  Enjoy.**

 

Adrenaline pulsed through his veins.  With careful movements, he took in his surroundings.  The warehouse was abandoned but he could hear movement.  That didn’t bode well.  A cautious step forward, weapon clutched tight in his hands.  The door was fifty feet in front of him.  He could get out if he didn’t attract attention.  He picked up his pace, gaze trained on the exit.  He wasn’t fast enough.  The creature attacked him from the side.  He swung his weapon, and nearly screamed when the deep voice said close to his ear, “Turn off the video game and come to bed.”

“I can’t go another day without a shower,” Isaac bit out, his voice hard and cold as he stared unblinkingly at his partner of thirteen years.

Dylan flinched and looked guilty, but his resolve was all over his face.  He shook his head and actually moved so that he was blocking the bathroom door.   Not that Isaac knew what was going on in there.  The door had been shut for a week, and work was only being done while Isaac was out of the house during the day.

There was a part of Isaac that thought it was sweet.  When he’d started complaining that the bathroom needed updating, Dylan had jumped at the chance to fix it up.  But Dylan had also decided it was going to be a surprise, and Isaac was never one for surprises.  And he was really, really tired of washing up in the kitchen sink.

Isaac eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms over his thin chest.  “I heard you in there last night.  You came out all wet and clean.  That means the shower is working.  I want to shower!”

Dylan actually held his hands out, warding Isaac off.  “One more day.  Please, baby, just one more day.  It’s just about done, let me finish.  Tomorrow, okay?”

Isaac opened his mouth to protest, to insist, but he saw the look in Dylan’s eyes and he faltered.  Dylan was so proud of himself, and he’d been working so hard.  Isaac could handle one more day, couldn’t he?

He scowled anyway.  “Fine.  One more day,” he agreed grumpily.  Then stalked off to the kitchen to wash up.

 

***

The blindfold was completely unnecessary, as far as Isaac was concerned.  Really, wouldn’t just opening the door be a big enough reveal?  But he played along, because in the end, he was finally getting to see the bathroom.  More importantly, he was finally going to get a shower.

He heard the door open, and then Dylan gently tugged his hand.  Everything smelled like new paint and a slightly of plastic.  He stood still, waiting impatiently.  With a flourish, Dylan pulled the blindfold from Isaac’s face.

Isaac blinked for a moment, his eyes adjusting.  The lighting was soft, though, only the bulbs above the new pedestal sink illuminating the room.  He swallowed hard as  his gaze tracked around the room.  The walls were now a light, soft gray, and the floor tiled to match.  The toilet and sink were both new, their positions slightly different and crammed in close to the small window–which had new coverings.  But when Isaac turned to look at the shower, his heart actually skipped a beat and he sucked in a fast breath.

It was a huge walk in deal, with a small bench along the back wall   There were mulitple shower heads–two that were removable and another that hung above so that it would rain down on him.  It was all chrome, and tile, and glass.  It was the most beautiful thing he had seen in a long time.  Probably because he wanted to be inside so badly.

The very best part was that it was big enough for two.

Isaac’s grin stretched his wide mouth as he reached out to grab Dylan by the shoulders.  He hauled the man close, kissed the ever living daylights out of him, and then pulled back to breathe.  Seeing Dylan all dazed and pleased made Isaac laugh.  He turned on the water, letting it warm up.  He started stripping off his clothes at record speed.  When he was naked, he went to work on Dylan’s.  Then he stepped inside, and with a hand around Dylan’s wrist, pulled the man in after him.

Dylan’s grin was huge.  “You like?”

“I love,” Isaac said reverently as the water pounded against his back.  He gave a decadent groan.  “And I love you.”

Dylan reached for the soap, slicked up the washcloth, and set to cleaning Isaac.  “Told you it would be worth it.”

Isaac could only agree.