Comfort and Joy (Josh)

“You might have found us otherwise.” Their group of Radicals was often out protesting or collecting signatures for petitions or distributing pamphlets. It was quite possible that Josh would have found them on another day and joined them. He might not have been the first then, but Sean didn’t think that would have changed the attraction he felt. But they would never know for sure.

Sean had never given much thought to what would have happened if he and Josh had never met. It wasn’t a topic he wanted to devote the energy to, because he had been so grateful for his relationship with Josh, and then their friendship later. His regrets in life didn’t involve never meeting the other man; even in the aftermath of the Break Up, he had never wished that their relationship had been avoided. But perhaps he would have married someone; then again, given his relationship history, that seemed unlikely.

It was inconsequential, because he had Josh now, and that was what mattered.

The telepath took a bite of his spanakopita and smiled as the flavors bloomed on his tongue. This was precisely what he needed after such a long day at work. Good food, good wine, and good company. Good company whose mood had lifted markedly from their disagreement in the kitchen, which lifted Sean’s spirits as well.

While the topic of discussion wasn’t forgotten, it had been shelved for the night, and that was fine. For tonight, they could simply enjoy one another’s company, relax, and be happy.

Sean nodded in affirmation to the question about time off. “Hammel technically has almost a month off for the students, but some stay around which makes my time busy between there and at the Center. But I should have about two weeks to myself between the holidays.”

He took another sip of wine and drained the glass. This led him to standing up to refill the glass and reached for Josh’s as well.

“Did you have something in mind? If you want to recreate college, it would involve us not leaving the bedroom except for when one of us ran for pizza so we didn’t die of starvation.”

Sean could visualize the wheels turning in Josh’s mind as he contemplated two full weeks of time off, time for them to spend together between the holidays. It was a sufficient amount of time off to comply with the other man’s demand from the summer that he take a vacation, as Josh defined the word “vacation.”

Apparently his partner’s thoughts were in the same place, and Sean smiled at the suggestion of Boston. A moment later, he felt Josh’s arms around his neck, and he caught himself to make sure he didn’t drop the wine glasses. While he appreciated the touch and the effect that wine had on his partner (in fact, he intended to make use of that later), he didn’t relish the thought of trying to get a wine stain out of the carpet. Even if it was white wine.

Carefully...just managing to reach the table, the telepath was able to set the glasses down. With his arms now free, he wrapped one around the other man’s waist and took the opportunity to lean down and bury his chin in Josh’s hair. “I think a trip to Boston is just what the doctor ordered. I can give Ryan a call, but he’ll probably be in New York.”

Holidays had always been a big deal in that family; he doubted Ryan could extricate himself from that completely. Nor would he want to.

With his free hand, Sean slid along Josh’s back to grab his backside and give it a light squeeze. “I’m certainly game for playing college student as well, if you are. I’m sure that will go nicely with the snow we’re expected to get this month.”

When Josh leaned into him, Sean tightened his arm marginally, enough to provide additional support and balance. It wouldn’t do for either of them to take a tumble. Josh had been correct earlier about Sean’s back and knees; and while the telepath didn’t think he required extra tenderness because of them, he didn’t need a trip to the emergency room for them either. “I know. How could a young man possibly want to be in the cultural capital of the country when he could be in a state obsessed with the New England Patriots?”

The telepath met Josh’s “concession” with a bark of laughter. “I’m glad I’m considered an acceptable substitute. You should make certain that Kathleen never hears that you have an interest in Ryan’s company; it might only make her question his sexuality more.” Sean couldn’t recall whether he had passed on that tidbit to Josh; the phone call had occurred during the mess in the summer, and relaying a frustrating anecdote about his sister’s worldview hadn’t been his top priority in the aftermath. “And you can say that; I wouldn’t mind an early regression.”

That was met with a suggestive quirk of one eyebrow. “My idea had been to stay inside, build a fire and a blanket fort. Despite all pretending, I’m too old for the snow. I’d much rather warm up with you.”

The telepath heard the other man’s thought, and he sighed softly. He was also motivated to make a correction. “She wouldn’t want you around children because of your radical leftist politics, not because you’re gay. She’s willfully ignorant regarding sexuality, but to her credit, she doesn’t equate homosexuality with pedophilia.” It was, literally, the least anyone could do regarding LGBT people. It excused none of her other opinions or behavior, but it was a small point in her favor.

“He does have a girlfriend. She’s extremely nice and well-suited for him,” Sean replied. He shook his head to himself as he reflected on anecdotes that Ryan had told him about visits with his parents. “She isn’t Catholic, which has precluded either Kathleen or Colin from getting to know her. It’s a shame, because she’d otherwise pass the smell test: she’s intelligent and hardworking; she’s religious, and she can cook. She wants children, and she hasn’t had too many boyfriends before Ryan. She isn’t more liberal than he is. And his parents don’t know about anything that would give them cause for concern.”

Such as the fact that they were sexually active. Or some of their other hobbies of which Sean was aware and would never divulge.

Sean followed Josh’s attention to his plate, and he nodded his assent. “After supper and after your treat. Do you think that’s fair?”

Because Kathleen was his sister, and they had been interacting for five decades, and the estrangement reasons had been present before the final break, Sean was familiar with her thought processes. He gave her credit where it was due, although it was usually the bare minimum, as it was here.

“I hardly consider that possible.” Merely because Ryan was already so liberal, as the generations tended to be, that there was nothing Josh could say to sway the boy further than he already was, nothing that Josh advocated, since the other man could still be “small c” conservative in several ways, and was rigid in his beliefs in others. But the telepath had no desire to reflect on politics, or parental disapproval of girlfriends and boyfriends, or his sister, or any other matter tonight.

Tonight he wanted to focus on Josh.

He wanted no arguments, merely to enjoy the company of his partner and the spirit of the gift.

The telepath let his arms slip from around Josh’s body, and he picked up his wine glass from the edge of the table where he’d left it. Then he returned to his chair, reseating himself and taking a sip of his wine.

As per Josh’s request, Sean replied, “It will keep.” Setting down his glass, he picked up his fork again. “I’ll still be here in thirty minutes when we finish eating and doing the dishes, and I promise that I’ll still be just as interested in practice with you. If not more so for the delay.”