Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

never heard come from my throat before, but we were both so shocked we just froze.
    Then, in the space of one more breath, I had his tongue doing its best to get down my throat. He kissed me hard and with abandon. It was the first time he had done more than press his lips gently to mine since the surgery, and I was ravenous to feel his touch. I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled him towards me with strength I didn't know I possessed. I exulted in the feeling of his tongue in my mouth and re-learned every surface of his with my own tongue. We made love with our mouths, and it was glorious.
    Unfortunately, still being significantly medicated, that was as far it could go for the moment, but it was as if that moment broke the ice that had surrounded my brain. I still had trouble forming some words, but I could manage to communicate again. He climbed into bed with me for the first time since the surgery and wrapped his arms around me, cuddling me to his side.
    It was as if my speaking was some sort of signal that I was actually getting better, getting strong again. It let him touch me as a man and not as an invalid. I reveled in it and we stayed that way all afternoon, watching re-runs of bad sci-fi on television.
    CHAPTER 7
    One Year Later
    I was tempted to do a twirling leap as I walked out of the hospital. One year later and still cancer free. I would still need to get regular CAT scans for another 4 or 5 years to be completely out of the woods, but this was the first major milestone.
    Andrew was waiting for me at home. He had moved into my apartment about ten months ago, when it became glaringly apparent that he was spending all his time there, and I had celebration plans for him this evening.
    When I got home, I told him the good news and then made him put on a blindfold so my surprise evening out would stay a surprise until we got there.
    He was terrible at surprises, so the whole ride there he tried to guess where we were going, his guesses getting ever more ridiculous as the ride progressed. I finally threatened to pull the car over and enjoy our special evening by myself when he asked if we were going to a roller skating clown orgy.
    When we got there, he grinned as I pulled off his blindfold and he saw that we were back at The Highball. Before we had been to see a Firefly re-enactment, which was totally my geek kink. Tonight I had made sure it was something he would enjoy: A show featuring The Avengers followed by a superhero trivia night. Men dressed in tights saving the world were his geek kink. His grin doubled in size when he saw the marquee declaring the theme for the evening.
    "Aww, Shawn. If I had known, I could have worn a costume." Yes, he does have at least two costumes that I know of, and yes, we'd had some fun with those costumes in a "no kids allowed" kind of way.
    Just to ruffle him a bit, I replied, "That's why I didn't tell you." But I smiled so he knew I was kidding.
    About halfway through the show, I whispered that I had to go to the bathroom and left him alone at the end of our row.
    I went to the bathroom and then snuck around to the area beside the stage. I was no longer dressed in my jeans and t-shirt. Instead, I had on a Captain America costume. Not full on spandex, but it would not be mistaken for street clothes if I walked out of the theater in it. I was a little nervous about how the crowd would react to what I was about to do, but this place catered more to the "keep Austin weird" set than the conservative Texas set so I figured I would be okay.
    I heard the MC for the evening start to introduce the next part of the show before he said, "And now we have a special guest this evening. I'd like to introduce Caaaaptaaaaiiiin Ameeeericaaaaaa."
    My palm was sweating buckets around the little piece of metal I gripped in my hand as I walked out on to the stage area. I had a nervous grin on my face, and I could tell the minute Andrew realized who I was.
    He was still smiling but I could tell he was confused.
    The MC continued, "He has a special mission he needs our help to complete tonight, so let's give him our support!" The crowd cheered raucously.
    I walked towards the aisle that Andrew was sitting in, and just before I reached his seat, I knelt on the ground in front of him. His eyes went wide.
    I opened my hand and held it up to him. The golden ring sat in my palm, the stage lights shining off it, making it seeming like a beacon in the semi-darkness of the theatre.
    "Andrew