Archenemy [brinary&Hideki] (Private)

[-Hideki-]

Will looked rather surprised when he heard that his grandson had talked about him with his boyfriend as he had not thought that he made good conversation material, then again if they had just gotten together they probably talked about their families. That however was nothing against the surprise he felt and that got even slightly visible on his old face when Christopher expressed that he was interested to learn something about him. He was a normal old man and no one except for his family had ever taken any interest in his life or what he had to say not that he had felt that he had wanted to tell someone. That had come with his age and his wife deceasing and the situations changing, what he saw happening, that he felt like maybe someone should listen to what he had to say.

 

“Something about me…” the man mused. “Well, I could tell you that I like watching sport shows and go to church every week but just to play bingo. I’m not religious, I have lost all believe a long time ago. No god would ever let such atrocities happen that had happened on this planet within my lifetime and if there was a god and he would play such a game he wouldn’t deserve to be worshipped by anyone anyway.” He jested. “But that’s not what you’re interested in about me is it?” he chuckled and scratched his chin, took some fish, swallowed it down and then continued to talk, his almost translucent eyes behind the glasses looking into Chris’s face although they didn’t see much anymore. A faint smile went over his lips when he said:”And you don’t have to hold yourself back. I don’t fear to look into the faces and events past, they happened, they are gone and they can’t return. What I fear for is the future.”

 

Joshua’s grandfather then coughed and he spoke again. “I was born in 1918 in Bautzen, Saxony, in the year in which the First World War came to an end and one year before the German Revolution resulted in the Weimar Constitution. I was so to speak a child of loss and revolt. Born into a humiliated nation that was crippled by a treaty that would make the economy crumble, leave the humiliated people in existential fear, with empty stomachs and in poverty while at the same time a whole new system that was too weak to protect itself against those who wanted it gone again was installed. The Kaiser went and the first democracy in my birth country came and it was a short lived one. Different fringe groups rose up, radical ideologies such as nationalism and communism, soldiers without an Army, paramilitary groups forming, that was the picture of the time.” The old man described.

 

“We lived in a small town house that needed a renovation but there was no money for it, we barely could afford enough food for all of us. My father had been a soldier in the first war and had gotten wounded severely and couldn’t do the physical labour he had done anymore leaving him unemployed and my mum tried to make some money by cleaning more wealthy people’s homes. I always knew my father only as a grumpy, angry and unhappy man, he yelled at us children often, he yelled at our mother, our mother cried nearly every day and my older brother couldn’t wait to leave the house and so he did. He disappeared, to Switzerland and he never contacted us again, leaving me and my older sister with my parents.” Will remembered and although Joshua knew the story he still listened as if he wouldn’t.

 

“When I was seven years old we suddenly moved and left Bautzen. My father had found an office job in Dresden, so our wracked home was sold and we moved into a tiny apartment in the larger city. My mother didn’t cry that often anymore and my father didn’t yell at us like this anymore this frequently either but the atmosphere in my family never got light and the atmosphere in the nation was that of a giant powder keg and although I was a child and didn’t understand the coherences I could feel it, it was in the air. But I was busy trying to make new friends and to get along in the new city. I made a good friend in school, his parents had a book- and stationery shop and we grew up together at least as old as one let us get together.” The old man informed Christopher and then his eyes began to spark.

 

“When I left school what was at a really young age that isn’t even thinkable now anymore I got a job at the butchery. And close to the butchery there was that tailor shop and whenever I passed by it I saw that beautiful young lady and I wanted to get to know her. So one day I cut a hole into my trousers at the knee to have a reason to go into the shop. That’s where I met Joshua’s grandmother. She was from a good family, out of my reach actually but I tried regardless and I won her over. I soon moved into her family’s house and we had marriage plans really early after we’ve met because we knew that we were just right for one another.” The man said and it made him happy to think about that moment but then his face went stern again.

 

“However, by the time I had left school a lot had changed and I remember that even when I had been in school I had told my friend that this will not take a good end and that I would leave would those powers take over the nation but he laughed at me saying that such clowns no one would follow. And I said to him, if you give a starving man food, he’ll thank you and he’ll follow you to where there is more of the food, if you give an unemployed man a job that pays for his family’s needs, he will thank you and follow you to where he thinks he finds a better life, if you give a humiliated man back his pride and promise him to restore the past glory of the nation and that he shall never be humiliated no more, if you give him a scapegoat, he will follow you to where he can hold his head up high again without question. But he looked at me as if I was an oddball and maybe I was but I unfortunately was right.” Wilhelm Weißenburg told them.

 

“Just a few weeks later he had got beaten up badly and with every month that passed his family got to feel it more and in 1933 what I had feared happened, they took over and I already planned my leave on my mind. Josh’s grandmother didn’t really want to at first but the events that followed made her change her mind rather quickly. When I had talked to my father a few years earlier he had called me paranoid when I had showed him the book of that incestuous psychopath with that idiotic moustache and told him how clear it was written - if one looked over the shitty language skills and the absence of decent punctuation- what this man really wanted to do and my father had looked at me and told me that this was just for the campaign, that it was big words but that this would never happen, that no one would even try something like that as no one would get away with it and that I was thinking about it too much and I always wondered how many had thought along those lines. ‘Giving us jobs, ja, he’ll totally do that, but murdering millions and aiming for world domination, that is lunacy that won’t happen.’ It was naïve to say the least. One should always assume that all of what a politician says he is going to do no matter how absurd or if he won’t in the end, because there is always the chance that he might implement all of it.” Will stated and sighed.

 

“And I don’t know how my parents and so many people could overlook the start of just that. The government started to control what the people shall read and what not, they searched for books they had forbidden and they burned them in a huge celebration all across the nation. They decided where you shall buy your things. When I wanted to buy something in the shop of my friend’s parents there was a brownshirt with a sign in front of it and someone had smeared their window. The brownshirt didn’t want to let me pass and I found that I was really witty and clever so I said’ Sir, you can stand here with your sign and bring your message across that I shall not buy in this shop but I don’t have to listen and you also have no right to vandalise other people’s property.’ The brownshirt wasn’t impressed though, he took the rod of the sign and hit me against the forehead and I sank down to the ground unconscious. My friend’s parents dragged me into the shop then armed with a chair to block potential attacks.” The old man said and took his cap from his head pointing at a faint old scar on his temple and forehead.

 

“When I woke up my head hurting like never before, I knew I’d leave for sure and if my girlfriend would not want to leave with me we had to part. I also talked to my friend’s parents and my friend and I asked them to leave already, to leave right now or something horrible would happen because it was so clear to see. His father declined vigorously, he even yelled at me, exclaiming that he was German, that this was his country, that he had fought in the first war and that he wouldn’t let the Nazis take his home and his country and being German from him, that he wouldn’t allow them that. It was stupid! It was irrational but completely understandable. But the wrong decision.” Will shook his head. “At least my girlfriend was so worried and saw things more clearly now after I’ve been attacked like that and she agreed to leave as soon as we could while the nation was forced into changing its face completely. Political opposition got imprisoned and tortured and forbidden, the press was censored and due time the government controlled everything. What you read, what you saw, what you learned, where you bought your things, what you liked and whom you were allowed to love.”

 

“I had spend a whole year to try to get my future wife’s and my family to leave with us but they wouldn’t. ‘It’s not that bad’, ‘It’s gonna be normal again soon’, ‘nothing will happen to us we’re safe’ and so on. It was a lost cause and in 1935 my girlfriend, the gay professor I told you about before and I left, we first travelled by train and then by boat. Not able to take anything with us expect for the money we had and some clothing. It was an uncomfortable journey and when we arrived we had no money left anymore.” The man said. “I found a job in construction though and we lived in one room with a kitchen unit with three people, the bathroom was on the floor and shared with the other people who lived in that building. The professor had an easier time to find something decently paid though, because he was a professor and he was friendly enough to help us out and for some reason he thought he owed me some what I didn’t think.” Wilhelm let them know.

 

“I would lie if I said it wasn’t extremely hard but we made it and I regularly wrote my family and my friend back in Dresden. My friend however was the first I would not hear from anymore. His family informed me that he had been caught with his girlfriend whom he wasn’t supposed to be with since the Nuremberg Laws had been installed in 1935; he had been taken into custody of the Gestapo and never seen again. That had happened while my father’s writing was getting happier, happier than I have ever seen the man. In one letter he told me that a friend of his working for the government had found the perfect house for them and the house had been incredibly cheap and he had bought it and it was bigger than our small town house back in Bautzen had been and there was so nice furniture in it and a lot of art that my mother liked so much. The man never asked himself why the government had this house, why they offered it to him for a ridiculous price and why the former owner apparently had left all furniture, art and decoration in there. He was doing great at his job and he could offer my mother and my sister something nice, that was all he was seeing. My mothers and sisters writing however got a lot more concerned although they did mention what nice things they were doing in the garden of the house and that my sister owned a horse now and nice clothing and so on. Nothing of that anymore when my sister’s fiancé got arrested and then shot for protesting the government in university though!”

 

Wilhelm sighed. “In December 1938 I’ve gotten one of my letters send back to me which I had send to the parent’s of my friend and with a stamp on it saying that the recipient didn’t live under that address anymore. Never heard from them again! Maybe they died in the Crystal Night in November or they had to leave and died later who knows where, it’s unlikely that they survived though. My wife from time to time got messages from home that one after the other of his brothers had fallen on the frontlines, young men, younger than the both of you and since February 1945 our mailbox was silent, no letters from Germany anymore. My family, my wife’s family all died in the bombings of the city of Dresden. Probably buried under some ruins of their houses, burned unrecognisably! And I had told them so, I had warned them and they had called me paranoid and I am still angry about them. Not because they called me paranoid but because they wouldn’t listen, they would close their eyes, look into the other direction and then they’d just die and I had no family, no sister, no mother, no father, no uncle and aunt, no childhood friend, no one anymore. “ the man said and then shook his head.

 

“As for us me and my wife we made it into a small apartment with a bedroom and a bathroom of our own. We got along well with the people here, we assimilated, we made friends and although not everything was perfect and there were a lot of things wrong with this country too it was going forward and the feeling was a good one, not one that smelled like blood and death but that smelled like liberation. The atmosphere changed for us a little though as soon as America went to war against the Third Reich. Being German made us the enemy in the eyes of some and we had to face resentments and people wanted justifications from us, wanted us to distance ourselves from something we had nothing to do with but we clearly and loudly positioned us against the Nazi regime and we hoped that the allies would win. When we won though things didn’t get normal for us again but worse! Seeing and hearing reports of what had happened in Germany made the people hostile against us. The irony of it being that many of them once had German ancestors too, a high percentage of US citizens has German roots after all but we had actually been born there and it didn’t matter to them that we had left before any of that had taken place.” The man snorted. “I wanted to change our last name. For one because of the hate we faced but also to make the final cut, to end that chapter once and for all. My wife protested and the name stayed as it was.” The man reported with a laugh.

 

“At forty years of age I became a father even though I had never wanted to put a child in a messed up world like this to die on a battlefield or in a rain of bombs but then I thought that he was going to be born an American and that it’d be alright and not that bad for him hopefully and it turned out to be the happiest day of my life after all. I made sure to make him love the US; I wanted to raise him a true American man but my wife had other plans again and we fought a lot about this. She spoke German to him, I didn’t want her to but she didn’t listen. I was enraged when the teacher ordered us to school and told us that our confused child was mixing languages together in school asking what language we were speaking at home and I told her I always only spoke English but my wife was a saboteur but the love of my life said nothing. We had the fight of the decade after that. I was mad and I told her that he was not a German and he’d never be a German, that he was born in America and he had not even seen Germany and wouldn’t and that our birthplace was now under another disgusting, totalitarian ideology which was communism. That she should acknowledge that and quit the bullshit and she started to cry and to say that since he had been born I wouldn’t even answer to her anymore when she spoke in German to me and that she missed home and her family and that she would speak with her son how she wanted to. I told her the US was her home now and nothing else and that her family was dead, killed by their so called home. It certainly wasn’t my most glorious day.” The man admitted. “When she died decades later I wished we wouldn’t have fought over this so much. That’s one thing I regret.”

 

“My wife you see, always accused me of hating my birth country or being ashamed of my heritage but both is untrue. I just felt and feel a major disconnect to it. It was a dark place when I was born, it got even darker and then it took everything and everyone over there who had meant something to me away and left only ashes and ruins. My former home ceased to exist! They built up from the ruins but neither the DDR nor the Federal Republic of today had and have anything in common with where I have been born. My wife had wanted to visit Germany but I didn’t. It would have been me visiting a foreign country I don’t know where the people speak a language I once spoke and I understand but have nothing else in common with my experiences anymore. I’m American, I lived my life in America and my birth place is lost, destroyed by the people of my age, now exists something new, something different and they have their own problems and political battles to fight. “the man explained in a heavy tone and then flung a smile at Christopher again.

 

“That’s something about me, if you want to know anything else, anything specific, you have a question, just ask me and I will answer as good as I can.” The man assured Chris and encouraged him and while the man had spoken Joshua had laid his arm around the journalist’s hips and had pulled him close because his family knew now anyway and he had wanted to do it.

 

Will had just finished talking about his life when Nisha who had left and gone upstairs to where they lived came back into the restaurant with four dresses hung over her arms., two red, two blue. “Joshi!” she called out and walked towards the table. “Is your party the red or the blue one again?” she wanted to know and Weißenburg raised an eyebrow at how she really had no idea or interest in their politics. “It’s the red one!” the man said and the woman nodded. “I have found two red dresses which one should I ….” Joshua cut her off though. “Can we do this later Chris is just talking to granpa about immigration.” He said and NIsha nodded and sat down next to Will hugging all four dresses looking at the reporter.

 

“Are you doing something like a collage of different immigration stories from people?” she asked interestedly in her soft voice looking at the younger man. “I immigrated too maybe I can offer my help as well. I’m not from China though even if many of you lovely people here assume that I am, I always have to disappoint them. They really seem to like the Chinese people.” The woman told him. “I’m from Thailand though. And I worked as a cook at a restaurant at the beach and then they fired me as a cook and I had to work as a waitress what was really mean but at least they still employed me. I don’t think I was good as a waitress though because I was a little shy and one day I saw that tourist who was a little older than me and he was so attractive and I loved his smile and pale eyes and I wanted to talk to him some but I didn’t because I thought he’d not like me anyway and I’m not pretty enough and the other waitresses were prettier than me. But he looked at me not at them and I always blushed and then he talked to me and I was so happy.” She hugged the dresses more and smiled and her dark eyes shone. “He asked me out and I said yes and we talked and had a great time and we went out together more but I was so scared that he wouldn’t like me after all or hate me and I wanted to just avoid him then but I had fallen in love with him so much that I didn’t avoid him and he turned out to still like me and that made me so happy that I cried. He said he couldn’t live in Thailand though because he had family in the US and the US also had better opportunities so I moved here with him and I really like it here. I love my new family and the people here are lovely although some are odd and I have made friends too and I have this restaurant and a nice house and lovely raccoons on the attic and I would like to make more friends and get to know more people.” She told him with a bright smile on her face and Josh couldn’t help but to smile back at her.

 

And he had difficulties bringing himself to tell her that this was not what Rosario as a political journalist probably needed! “I’m sure he found your story really interesting but I am afraid that’s not what fits what he is writing about. It lacks the tyranny and fascist regimes and fleeing from political oppression and persecution part but is more like a love story Nisha.” He told her and the woman looked at him and then at Chris. “But love stories are nice. I like love stories. You’re all doing it really wrong. People are focussed on the negative and dark and awful aspects too much and that’s bad for the soul. You should write and tell more nice and happy stories that give people hope. And love stories are just that. So you should write more about love stories. You could write your own love story with Joshi, I think that the people would love to read it and find it really cute. You’re so adorable together after all. That’s much cuter than dark and awful history that makes you depressed.” She found and Josh snorted thinking that the ‘people’ meaning Rosario’s readers probably would not find anything cute about their left wing hero sharing his bed with their super villain and enemy.

 

“But I was just telling him about my life and experiences.” Will said because his early life just had been dark in a lot of ways. “Yes, but why don’t you tell him happy things about your life. There must have been nice moments too?” Nisha smiled at the hundred years old encouragingly and Will mused. “The birth of my son, my marriage, my son’s marriage, the birth of my grandchildren and great grandchildren, celebrating the 4th July, thanksgiving dinners and my hundredth birthday party it was really touching, “ the man stated and Joshua felt himself reminded about his grandfather’s 4th July celebrations where he pinned a flag onto everything possible. When Josh had been young his mother had once started to make a political fuss and complain about how imperialist the US was and Wilhelm had honoured that with passing by her wordlessly and happily whistling, pressing a flag sticker onto her mouth and forehead with a smile on his face to tease her what had made Weißenburg’s mother mad because it had hurt to get the stickers off her skin.

[brinary]

So he was a little hungry for it. He tried not to let it show at first, and at first he didn't feel it. It was a regular conversation- more of a monologue actually, just with an audience- and that was great. Christopher had no reason to want to dig up parts of this man's past that could potentially wreck him. Different people had different reactions to trauma. He found older people had weathered their storms long ago; the way they spoke was emotive but detached with heaps of introspection and smirks at their own young, young hubris. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spoken to his grandparents-- they were dead long before he could formulate concrete memories. There was just the distant and hazy recollection. It was more of a soundbyte really, faint humming in a reedy voice. His mother had told him her mother, she'd curve over his crib and coo old folk songs at him in a voice destroyed from heavy mining work. Sitting and speaking with the elderly was one of his favorite things for several reasons and maybe that contributed to it. Lacking in ever hearing old tales from his own grandparents.

 

Smiling a little at the man's slight jest, he did what he was great at: listening and nodding.

 

There was a social cue that told him writing notes down would be indecent, so he would need to commit this all to memory. But if he didn't absolutely eat it up. That was when the hunger kicked in; from the very start Christopher could tell that Will had told this story before and he was fucking good at it. Recounting one's life could be a dreary process, piddling through fragmented memories and straying far and beyond to avoid certain times. He couldn't hold such people at fault; who would want to willingly revisit a haunting time? Even more, not everyone had that tenacity to admit gruesome details surrounding their situations. Will did, though. He adjusted in his seat again to a little more comfortable, the wood squeaking under his shifting weight before the Hispanic got settled and folded his body up for acute listening.

 

Sometimes people would be put off by his eyes. They were sharp and inquisitive; Christopher felt the need to dumb his appearances down for comfort's purpose. Especially in foreign countries where such bright green wasn't quite the norm for the likes of a person such as himself. Even more with people who were already skirting around, rethinking their agreeing to be interviewed. It was perhaps for the best Will couldn't see him very well. Without an environment that would reinforce his "reporter rules" (no intense eye contact, always slightly relaxed) Christopher was focused and straight-faced, watching Will intently.

 

AP European History classes had done wonders for his understanding of the material, surprisingly. Junior year of high school and his sophomore seminars had especially gone into the great depths about Germany's 'interesting?' history. History was interesting as a whole but the darkness that'd swept across so many nations in the 20th century was pretty criminal. Terms like 'Weimar Constitution' linked to 'Versailles' resulting in the hyper-inflation, 'Anschluss,' the many uprisings and occupations, more and more. He'd met people who'd lived during these times, of course- none as coherent or sprightly as Will. Christopher's understanding was morphed from an old field trip experience for research purposes, as well as one or two Jewish Studies classes he'd taken with the spare credits his AP accomplishments had awarded him. Central Europe's collapse as a power leaving a vacuum that the Soviet Union had sucked up with an agonizing grace. Although the timeline was muddied, hearing someone's experiences throughout one of the greatest foreign empire's modern-day collapse was utterly enthralling.

 

Only the old tias ever had tales to tell. His uncle had told him many of what he knew. Huddled close in his home as if even the smallest spider could report back to the government, he unfolded Jorge Ubico, "the bastard-made donkey," and his regime that had shaped the Guatemala he'd come to grow up in. There were intriguing parallels again and an uncomfortable knowledge for Christopher himself, listening to Will speak about his childhood. It was eating in the back of his mind but the forefront held that animalistic hunger as he saw the spark in the old man's eyes.

 

Similarly reflected in Christopher's, he smiled, forcing himself to eat whenever he remembered there was food in front of him. His previous discomfort and hunger felt satisfied as the man across from him recounted meeting his wife. 'A really young age,' he could imagine. His mother's side of the family had been more educated than his father's. Her mother had apparently finished school just at 16 year old and was immediately admitted into more serious vocational studies and work. She'd been a secretary if he could remember correctly, a secretary for a postal firm. Some such thing. It'd dealt with requests that were largely different from one another. Dutifully, day in and day out, she'd type flawlessly, take a short lunch break, then return to her desk. The way his mother described it, his grandfather had been a country boy trying for an accountant apprenticeship but ended up as the building's personal custodian. Their paths crossed in unfortunate ways, like her slipping on his recently mopped floors, or having to call him in to fix an ink explosion. Love was destined, supposedly.

 

They'd never really been political dissenters. His grandfather had barely escaped being an army-boy but lived with what they were given. Mixed blood and labeled a "mutt" for all his life, there hadn't been much to care about. And his grandmother was a god-fearing woman who lived her life day in, day out. She'd been privileged; any dirt or grime she experienced had been solely because her husband dragged her into it. Their reactions to politically opinionated children had been panicked. Christopher could only imagine. Even with their hard-working lifestyles, there hadn't been enough money to ever get them to leave-- if they'd wanted to. Perhaps it was the knowledge that they couldn't that made them stay. Even with all of her savings and all of his combined, his grandparents didn't have the resources to rebuild.

 

Christopher knew a lot about idiots with moustaches. His uncle made sure of it.

 

Guatemala had been taken over by a great dictator as well after a financial collapse and a dictator forced out of position due to "incompetency." It marked a repressive, censoring government with a doctrine based on torture and money. And also a fascist. A Moussolini-admirer, a Franco-supporter, a man who'd likened himself to Hitler with great admiration.

 

"Mutts" like his grandfather had open-season declared on them from the dictator's glib disdain for the indigenous peoples. His father's family had the worst of it, as old as a family could be in their blood. Aristocrats they were not but hard-bred farming folk with land that'd been their own since before the establishment of a country, even. A pompous cad who declared how powerful he was and had everyone remember it, reminded everyone constantly, beating down anyone in his path and encouraging murder, torture. The tide finally turned with the assassination of then teacher, now martryd, Maria Chinchilla. And it just continued. Sympathizing politicians to a despicable regime out in Europe, uprisings and coups galore.

 

His family thought it'd get better, too. He understood that. Christopher knew what it was like to hope that the world wouldn't keep smashing you down. But it was unfortunately how things worked out. The recounting was hitting a deeper emotional core than Kris had initially expected. Breakfast time was a great setting for this; his need to smother his emotions with food was sated nearly immediately once he remembered the plate right in front of him.

 

Immigration was fucking hard, seemed like the general synopsis. And how people handled it was as different as the people themselves.

 

Somewhere inbetween staring at Will talk while eating cold eggs and staring at Will talk while soundlessly consuming an entire waffle (a silent, scary vacuum), Joshua had put an arm around him. It felt natural. Christopher leaned into the other as the elder Weibenburg's story drew to a close. What a fucking ride that was. Nisha jumped into scene, which was alright by Kris, who needed to drink some water and collect himself after such a particularly personal recounting. She was so sweet. If not a little. Y'know. A little oblivious. But that was okay! Because she was allowed to be and it was okay to be. A little lightness felt like an entire room-full after such heavy content.

 

Of course, Christopher being the covert-cheeseball he was, he absolutely ate. it. up, smile taking some time to break across what had been a previously blank expression. There was a part that said, 'don't baby-fy her, that's a grown woman, she's allowed to feel however she wants and if you think of her like a baby, it's ridiculously rude,' but another part said, 'holy shit she sounds like a teenage girl and I'm ridiculously obsessed with the aesthetic she's set up of this grandiose but quaint love story ugh.' She was like... a very sweet dog that did great things but sometimes people missed out on seeing them because they were distracted by their own lame self-interests.

 

"I'm not out on a hunt for the dark and depressing," Christopher said after a while, his plate clean from shoving so much food into his mouth (soundlessly, so quick and fast) and smile still carefully lingering on his lips. "I'm just out for stories. I like hearing about anyone's experiences. It just can't be helped that these things can get solemn. We're all patchwork people assembled from different moments, and those moments shape and color us. It's happy and hopeful that someone could escape what was a disaster," he argued reasonably, voice more contemplative as if he was talking more to himself than anything. "And he built a great life and has a great family. It's like any good story structure, with ups and downs. It's just... very... many downs, and then big ups, that lasted just as long or longer than the downs." He screwed his face then started counting it off in his head, finger in the air before he turned then touched the finger to Joshua's nose, biting his lip. "Because if you're 40," glance at Will, "and he's 100," eyes to the ceiling, "with a child at 40... left in '35... '45... 1918... around '58, '59, carry... Yes! More than half his life has been pretty much a greatly improved up," Kris finally concluded with a shake of his head. Which was regrettable indeed, curls immediately channeling his exuberance and fluffing out even more, one snapping directly into the man's eyes. He brushed it away indignantly. "Not to impose my opinions on you, at least," Kris immediately apologized. "I just think in comparison's sake, it's been a great up."

 

"Also. The food was really delicious."

 

Dabbing his mouth clean, Christopher drank some more water and continued. "I was really intrigued with your story because of my own immigration and my own country. I've been collecting a lot of people's tales about their hopes to leave certain places, what actually happens. I even relived a little of my own journey," he finally clarified. "Guatemala has a history of fascism-sympathies and adjacent-communism like... well, like a lot of other Latin American countries. It's always very hard to hear criticism because of the censorship and corruption it's had for centuries at this point. Especially from an older generation who's basically been... fear-mongered into a general silence and mollified by violence but. You know." The writer shrugged. Looking a little off into the distance, he exhaled and shook his head.

 

"I'm sorry. I feel like I had actual questions. Or good remarks. But I feel at a slight loss. I just..." Trailing, he found himself reddening from embarrassment but smiled through it. "Really wanted to hear from you, I suppose. Your experience is really interesting to me; it's not totally separate from people I've talked to," Christopher began, "but weirdly alien to me. My household has always clung to our birth-country. Joshua likened it- and me- to your wife, in that way. It came up while we were talking-- I'm not going to go over like, heheh, the entire conversation because it was a long back-and-forth, but I wanted to ask you about that kind of transition for you, and little moments of getting used to America. For you, what was the defining experience that made you feel like you were absolutely American? Was it a culmination of little moments or one thing that settled it? I guess the same goes to you Nisha; I'd feel bad about leaving you out," he added, smiling at the woman.

[-Hideki-]

Josh could see a smile forming on his grandfather’s face when Christopher explained to Nisha that he wasn’t on a hunt for dark and depressing stories and was about to count how many years of Will’s life had been an improvement and filled with light. The blond male’s blue eyes squinted down onto his boyfriend’s finger when it touched the tip of his nose to point at him what not only made the businessman’s grandfather chuckle but also made the black haired woman go ‘Awww’ again. Why did women always make that sound anyway? Then again he had heard Terry making it too and he was not a woman. When Chris came to his conclusion that more than half of the hundred years old’s life had been a greatly improved up Will smiled at the journalist. “That is undeniably true.” He agreed and then made a musing face. “I think that not only me but the western world in general has greatly improved. The US as well as Europe! A lot of desirable and necessary progress has been made over the decades but it’s on you to ensure that this progress will not be reversed and lost again because there are different streams that only wait to turn backwards again without an idea what the times they want to bring back have been like in lived reality. And this threat is not only external but internal as well.” the old man told them with a tired sigh.

 

One could see a mild reaction of surprise on Wilhelm’s face when the reporter told him that he had been really intrigued hearing his stories because of his own personal history of immigration. “So that’s where the interest for the topic comes from.” The old man concluded. “I thought you would have been born here. For how long have you lived in the US? You have no significant accent. It took me decades to get rid of mine.” Joshua’s grandfather told the other and listened further to what the other had to say. It wasn’t news to him that many Latin American nations had flirted with fascism and had copied some aspects of it. “Countries such as Argentina were safe havens for war and other criminals of my generation in order to escape justice.” He remarked remembering how he had followed the Nuremberg Trials and how throughout the decade’s news of criminal Nazis hiding in Latin America living a good life, better than most of the citizens in those countries did, had come to light. And although he had wanted to keep his distance from the whole subject the fact that those leaders had offered those criminals who had destroyed his birth country safety from the law had enraged him every single time to the point where his wife had turned out the TV or had pulled the news paper out of his hands so that he’d stop bothering himself with it.

 

Smiling encouragingly the old man looked at Christopher when the other was seemingly embarrassed because he had forgotten about the questions he had intended to ask him and he nodded when the much younger male expressed how his experiences were alien to him although he had heard similar things before. “There is no need to summarise your conversation with Joshua for me. I know my grandson’s stand on immigration and his expectations of immigrants so I can imagine how it might have gone.” The man stated looking at Josh who was coming to terms with and at the same time enjoying the situation that he could lay his arm around the brunette, be open about being with him around his family and his eyes were more on Christopher than on anyone else. “That’s a good question though young man….” Weißenburg’s grandfather found and mused his eyes staring at the fish as he thought as if he could better concentrate looking at it. “There was no incisive moments and neither was there a culmination in that sense not that I’d know of at least. It was a much smoother and unobtrusive change I suppose that didn’t take all that long for me.” He started to explain while he was still thinking, wiping through his mind and memories like all those young people did with information on their weird computer phones that Will couldn’t handle. His son had given him one, he had tried, it had frustrated him and because his son had wanted him to use it the old man had totally not deliberately at all sunken it in the fish tank. Much too complicated those things. He wanted his telephone with the dial and the cable back that was much more reasonable.

 

“You see, “Will started again. “When we first arrived here I came here with the intention and motivation to become a part of this country, to be one of them, of the American people to make this my home and to find belonging and I worked hard physically but also on myself to achieve that and although I would have never admitted that at the beginning it felt like mimicking the people here, mimicking their traditions, their lives, their language as if it was a study so to speak. I spoke really bad English and understood really little at first feeling like a blind man lost in a crowd of people without any orientation, people who weren’t fond of what I did to their language. The professor taught me and my wife English but it took some time although I was really ambitious. I invested a lot and I compared myself a lot but when I thought there always was ‘me’ and there were ‘the Americans’. Throughout time that changed. I wasn’t mimicking anything anymore, I wasn’t without an orientation anymore and when I thought about Americans I thought about ‘us’, I felt addressed and included when someone said ‘Americans’ while I didn’t feel addressed when someone was speaking of the ‘Germans’and that was when I was 100% American myself and not someone who had left one house and was desperately trying to get inside the other house but was stuck peering through the window of it. It was no moment in which it happened, I graduated to it. My wife however never got there her whole life! She was always stuck between two chairs and she couldn’t sit on both so she sat on none and that often filled her with sadness and left a void in her heart.” The old man reported and his voice got a little heavy. “She died twenty years ago without having seen Dresden again.” He said. “And she often had these moments in the last year before she died where she refused to speak English and I refused to speak German but when she died I let them write on her gravestone in German and at her funeral I said my goodbyes to her in a language I had not spoken since ages.” The man snorted. “The German people would have probably laughed at how it must have sounded and thought that Americans just can’t speak other languages very well.” Will laughed but he wasn’t happy. “Ahhh, that wasn’t even the question anymore. I’ve derailed, apologies.” He waved his hand and gesticulated at Nisha. “He asked you too.” The old man said and Nisha who was nearly sobbing as she looked at the old man and thought about the story from his wife and she stuttered because she had forgotten about what she had been so happy about before for a moment.

 

The lady really was grateful that Christopher had considered her and apparently was interested in her story too and that she might be helpful for his project which must be important, so she straightened herself and smiled at Chris holding the four dresses in her arms. “It’s really simple for me.” She said. “My husband is here in this country, my new family whom I love are here too and all my friends and the people from the centre and I have my own business and house here and I feel at home where there are the people I love, where I can feel warm and cosy and valued. I never thought someone would ever love me or even like me and I never felt this feeling of being at home ever before and now I have all of it and so many lovely people who love me and that’s important to me. And all those people are in this country, that makes this country my home and if this country being my home makes me an American than I am an American for whatever it means to be an American.” The woman said and Josh was not surprised at all when he heard it. “I don’t really attach much value to nationalities and even less to politics. Politics are a lost cause, they are stressful and indulging in them is frustrating and unsatisfactory that’s why I actively avoid it because my short life as me before I’ll be something else is too valuable and I want to spend it with nice things and people whom I love and not with how awful everything is and a lot of fights and arguments.” The woman explained. “What matters to me are the people and the people I am surrounded by made me feel welcome when I first arrived at twenty one years of age.” She ended and her smile had turned wider and her eyes shone.

 

“And now to the really important question…” Nisha said and then she stood, placed the blue dresses onto her seat and held the red ones against her small body. “Which dress for the women’s meeting? I want to look pretty.” She stated and showed them a short, tight sheath dress with a slit at the thigh which Joshua’s father had once bought her because he had found she had looked great or rather ‘hot’ in it and a long one she had worn when the family had visited a medieval market and feast explicitly excluding the businessman’s mother because she’d have ranted about the oppression of women in the dark ages and witch burnings the whole time and would have killed all the fun they had had. Josh ran his hand over his face before he shook his head. “Neither. That one is too short and just no and it’s not a medieval festival either.” He told her and Nisha looked at him and then the dresses. “But I only have those that are completely red without any other colour on them.” The woman told them and Weißenburg pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “It doesn’t have to be red. It could be… black too for example.” He said and Nisha didn’t seem to like that. “I don’t have a black dress. I find black is a depressing and dark colour and it reminds me of funerals and I don’t like it.” She informed him. “White then.” Josh said only waiting for another reason why she didn’t like white dresses either and he already saw her going in a medieval costume to the meeting of his party. “Yes!” she rejoiced though. “Wait a moment.” She told Joshua and Chris, flung the red dresses over the blue ones and off she was.

 

When she came back she was dragging a long train of white silk after herself, holding the dress close with her hand on her back presenting her wedding dress to them. “Joshi, can you close this for me.” She asked and Joshua pulled the zipper close at her back looking at her as if she was kidding him right there. “Now you just wanted to show Chris your wedding dress didn’t you?” he commented and the woman laughed. “Yes!” she admitted with a smile. “This I married my husband in!” she told Christopher. “I felt really beautiful that day and I don’t feel really beautiful often.” She explained. “Do you like my wedding dress?” she asked and Will had caught onto the whole wedding dress thing. “It was such a nice wedding ceremony and celebration. The last one I’ve been too. It’s such a shame your mother in law couldn’t witness it anymore, she’d have loved it too. It was the first wedding on the beach I’ve attended. “ then he turned to Joshua. “And even your mother was bearable that day. I had a bunch of my flag stickers with me because I was almost certain I had to shut her up but it wasn’t even necessary.” The old man said when the door went open and Josh’s father came into the restaurant with a coffee as he wanted to relax for a few minutes before the restaurant would open but when the man saw Nisha he let his hand run through his soft white hair and he thought that this day couldn’t get worse or any more weird. “Why are you wearing your wedding dress, we’ll open soon and why would you wear it in general?” he wanted to know. It had been absurd and ridiculous enough that his son was gay and had not told him for thirty years. How should he have known? There were no signs of it at all! None! Had he known he’d not have said the stuff he had said. But he had not known, because he could not have known, obviously.

 

“I’m showing it to Chris because I….” she answered but the grey eyes of Joshua’s dad went wide and he went chalk white again and placed his hand onto his heart, then he placed his coffee onto the table and leaned over it staring into Chris’s and Josh’s eyes. “Jesus Christ please no! Tell me you two are not engaged and you didn’t tell me this news either. And if you are engaged please tell me none of you men will wear a bloody dress.” He exclaimed totally serious and worried about this shaking his head.

[brinary]

Nisha and WIll's eyes paired together, smiling at them like that, nearly made Christopher giggle. It could be that they weren't used to seeing Joshua being doted upon like this by another person, much less a man? Or the fact that Joshua was finally out and getting comfortable? There could be a number of factors but Kris silently agreed with their approval. If he could watch how Joshua held him, he would have made a similar approving noise-- or probably said 'lame.' Actually, definitely would have said lame. This was the definition of it. He absolutely adored it. Joshua's hand felt good around his waist and now that his hands were free, the one closest to the blonde acted on basic instinct, curling over his leg to rest affectionately on his knee. Kris pinched it for good measure, because why wouldn't he? He got the permission to do these things now.

 

He could openly smack Joshua's ass now and not be murdered for it. Maybe not openly-- not in PUBLIC, but definitely just... around the house, around a park, each minding their own business, smack! Just like that. What a life to live, what a dream come true! He'd have to test it out. The skin was pulled so taunt Kris vaguely wondered if it would reverb a little, like some sort of interesting drum. That was a hilarious thought but Christopher chased it away-- Joshua's grandfather was speaking again. No perverse or funny thoughts allowed when Joshua's grandfather spoke.

 

Will's question about his accent actually surprised him. Christopher felt like he always heard his accent, was hyperaware of every nearly rolled 'r' or tongue-ladden word. His own mild reaction flashed across his face before he counted off in his head. "Over two decades now," he answered as if it was hard to believe himself. It was crazy how long it'd been. He still remembered things so vividly. But did he? Did he really? Actually, yes, he did. Fondly, he recalled the treacherous challenge that was English."My junior high school I went to had speech therapy. It helped me a little bit. I mostly just sat down places and listened to people talk and tried to repeat it. I must have looked insane." He could see himself now with knobby knees bent up in some corner of a Best Buy, trying in vain to read a pamphlet. Jumping at every chance he got to go to the grocery store because the signs were always so useful for him.

 

It was language and accents that made him think about his father. His father who he'd been without for ten years. All the stories about him had painted him so differently; the man he met wasn't a true-blue Guatemalan but a man with a smoothed accent. Thinking about it now, as the old man spoke, his own 'old man' had a much rougher accent than his own English. But it'd always been very beautiful to him. Whereas his mother stumbled often, giving up after a fit of frustration, his father was that middle-ground he'd strived for. Obviously foreign but well-lived when it came to 'Americanness.' It wasn't the stereotypical 'sexy' Spanish.

 

When he though of his Father's accent, it was through those beautiful muted tapes smuggled through borders, tucked into envelopes. His mother would gather them to listen those cassettes, listen to his Father speak the language he'd known all his life, switching between that and English with such fluidity it astounded the young boy. Their relationship hadn't existed; Christopher was barely a few months old when his father had left, his sisters the poor souls left behind. Christopher's name had just been conceived; his personhood, in the eyes of his father, came much later.

 

Maybe that was another reason why it had been difficult. For all the establishments he made, for how much of a success he'd been, Christopher felt like he'd never be able to hold the title of an American as dear to him as others did. There was a separation. He was always looking back at his past. 'One could never forget one's roots' and that's what he looked like, a dirty plant, yanked out of a soil bed. With his brown hair and his freckled face and all his scars and marks and craters.

 

Most of his issues were just him. Listening to Will really emphasized that-- his problems were purely out of his own warped perspective. Guatemala had been torn apart for ages before he was ever thought as a conception. It was a ramshackle place with political turmoil practically written into its history. Had the Guatemala he'd known and left, had it been those violent, projectic gangs, truly? Christopher could only remember tames with his mother and home-school classes with ratty textbooks from ages ago. Their garden and its forest, with the hills that spread miles. Running down those slopes with the wind slashing his cheeks, rain making the ground wet and slippery. God knows how he hadn't died those times as a child. They'd played near toxic lands and fire-prone forests, he'd danced in the dirtiest waters, and he'd loved it. He missed it.

 

How long would it be before he was an old man, sitting in neither chair, dying to go home, laid to rest in a land he loved (he really loved this country) but was always looking away from, back in the past?

 

It must have been grueling to suffer that. Not just as a woman yearning for her past, but a man watching someone hurt because of it. In retrospect, it must have been quite painful. "It's okay, you have nothing to apologise for," he answered quietly then cleared his throat. Nisha was really echoing how he felt on the inside-- imagining the loved ones he had in his life, that happening to them... Just hearing it by itself, even. It was so sad. So unfortunate. Ugh! He could feel himself dwelling and looked to the startled woman with a half-smile, knowing she would say something undoubtedly cheerful and sweet.

 

And of course... Nisha delivered. It did make a lot of sense. All from what he could gather, Nisha's life hadn't been a good one, and this life was. And he was happy for her. She had what any person wanted which was feeling warm, and feeling cosy, and BEING valued. He felt like cheering for her from that short synopsis alone. Yes, Nisha, fucking you be cosy and warm and happy and valued while you wear your cute clothes and do your cute hair. YES NISHA! Grateful for Nisha, once again, being a cloud of happiness and overall cheer, Christopher felt his eyes shining in a similar way to hers. "I'm glad you feel that way Nisha-- it really shows how happy you are. I know we haven't known each other for too long, but it's good you could find that sort of buoyancy and fulfillment," he said. Ugh, what an emotional meeting. First Joshua existing, then coming out, then a man's saga, followed by Nisha's sweet, genuine... everything. Being around the Weibenburg's was exhausting. And also the little sleep and sore ass was getting to Christopher, body awake enough in full and chair hard enough to remind him.

 

He blushed thinking about how messy the couch must have been. Should have cleaned it before they left...

 

Two dresses. They were... Not great. For any political party? Christopher could only think that the first one would have been a great outfit for wearing purely to have it taken off (nisha was practically a step-mom/sister to him why had he thought that ew gross EW GROSS HE WAS THINKING ABOUT IT MAKE IT STOP) and the other was just plain-- not on genre. Christopher's eyebrows had raised from confusion. Then the man had to hide a small smile behind his man, chuckling at the display then outright snickering at Joshua's exasperated actions. He acted like such a tired old man sometimes it was easy to forget how close they were- technically- in age. Joshua reacted so bodily that it made Chris want to cackle. Why was he SO exasperated. The man had grown up with a sister. It was funny. This was another emotion to pile onto the stack of "too many" Kris had already been collecting.

 

Once the woman ran off, Kris hit Joshua's stomach rather hard, obviously unaware of how heavy his hand could be. "You react way too-" the hit landed with a smack and Kris startled hard. "Oh, shi-- shoot sorry." Rubbing the spot where he'd hit, he continued. "You react so boldly. It's like you can't do one thing without bodily expressing it. You're hilarious to watch. Did that hurt a lot? I'm sorry."

 

Still soothing it, he glanced up with the other two when Nisha came back down. The dress was silk, and white, and had a long train, but he thought 'people don't just wear those.' Nisha wasn't people. She was Nisha. She worked in mysterious and powerful ways. She looked great! "You look great, I love it!" But whyyyyy?

 

Things happened that led to Joshua's father arching over them like a bolt of lightning, ready to strike and just as alert.

 

"Oh! Uh." He looked at Joshua then back at his father. "No. Haha. No, no, we're-- not engaged or wearing a dress, because of engagement. I was just asking Nisha about some of her life and she was talking about the wedding the two of you had. Then ran to show me her dress," he answered. "No marriages here." Opening his mouth to say something, his phone rang against his thigh and he pulled it out to check the caller ID. "Oh, sorry, hold on," he excused himself, shrugging Joshua's arm off with an apologetic but frantic grin, getting out of his seat hastily as he answered the phone.

 

"Mama, ciao--" He held the phone slightly away from me as the tirade of muted yelling seemed amplified in the quiet restaurant as he looked around desperately for a bathroom.

 

"Ay, no mama, hola, ciao, mwuah mwuah, no has REGRASADO MI LLAMADAS POR EN TU TELEFONO, ESTUPIDO, tu cerote, dhyou wha me to DIE, por favor, no chingues, is that IT? EH CHRISTOPHER? CHRISTOPHER ROSARIO CHIMADA BLANCO YYLLAMBADAS, ANSWER--"

 

"mom i'm with company-" he winced right after just as another loud pop of volume crackled out of his cellphone.

 

'THE COMPANY! CAN KISS! MY CHEEKS! YO-- ayyyy, Aguas aguas, estaaaan pisando! una linea tan cuidadsoda conmigo, aye? Tell de peaople, yo tell them--"

 

Fully switching, Christopher walked off, spewing Spanish exasperatedly. "Mama, por favor trata de no gritar... tanto que sabes que tu voz puede ceder en cualquier momento, por favor. Me estas haciendo sentir muy babosada, pero yo que te hice sentir, mama, sentir de manera similar y lo siento." He looked red in the face and motioned that he'd be outside, practically bolting outside as he spoke to his mother. The man was only outside for just a minute, pacing up and down past the window. He only re-entered the restaurant at the very tail end of his good-byes. "Love you too, I'll remember to hang the rosemary. Okay, bye bye."

 

Kris stood there for a moment, still red as evidenced by his obvious... redness. "Hi. Sorry. My Mom. She gets shouty. She's really sweet. Just really shouty."

[-Hideki-]

His abs instinctively constricted when Christopher’s arm was moving into the direction of Weißenburg’s stomach and hit him rather hard. It made a smacking noise and Josh flinched at it but thanks to the reaction of his body it didn’t hurt as bad as it would have had his muscles been relaxed. “What was that for?” he demanded to know when the journalist already apologised and rubbed his stomach what was something if done in another situation would make the blond relax and potentially fall asleep, like his sister’s dog if one rubbed its belly. When Christopher then commented on his expressions he raised an eyebrow. “I’m just a passionate and opinionated man and I express myself fiercely and clearly. Nearly all great leaders in history had a strong body language, it shows leadership ability.” The businessman said confidently no clue if that would actually manage to survive any check for validation. A snort promptly came from his grandfather. “Great leaders and leadership abilities.” The man laughed and shook his head. “What it’s true!” the blond claimed and his grandfather was still amused. “Yes, sure, you are a candidate for mayor for this city; they will sing songs about your legacy centuries from now.” The hundred years old said sarcastically. “Just you wait, I’ll make it to the top in politics sooner or later.” Josh swore and then sighed and addressed Chris again who had asked him if it had hurt too bad. “No, it’s fine. I’m just glad I had combat training. Apparently having had military training is a necessity as your boyfriend, Jeez.” He said with a teasing grin on his lips, taking one of Chris’s curls wrapping it around his finger.

 

Nisha was beaming at Chris and rotating around herself in her dress for them when the reporter told her that she looked great and he loved her dress before his father made his appearance and nearly got another heart attack because he thought that Joshua was getting married and one of the two guys would wear a dress what was echoing in the sixty years old man’s head like a horror scenario. One could see how relieve streamed through the blond’s old man and how his body lost tension when Christopher explained to them that they weren’t getting married and that no one would wear a dress but that Nisha had just been talking about her life and had wanted to present him her wedding dress. Erwin even managed a smile and turned to Nisha. “It was a really wonderful day, you looked so gorgeous and you look gorgeous now too.” The man said and took NIsha’s hand kissing it what made the petite lady chuckle as she moved a little closer to Josh’s father. It didn’t last long though because the man reminded her that the employees would be there soon and that they had to start working punctual and the black haired woman went off with the dress again, just when Chris’s phone buzzed and Joshua’s dad had sat down on a chair taking a gulp of his coffee.

 

“Alright.” The blond said when the journalist excused himself but he only reluctantly let go of the man’s body to let him get off of the chair and away from the table. The man didn’t get far though and Joshua as well as the other two men on the table could hear the shouting voice of a woman really clearly through the phone. Even Will regardless of how hard of hearing he was. Neither of them understood a word though but three pair of pale eyes were still looking at the younger man before his father decided that it wasn’t interesting and left out a relieved sigh. “I’m so glad that none of you is wearing a dress. I wouldn’t want to see my son like that, acting effeminate… “and Josh cut his father off right there. “Of course I don’t wear dresses and I’m not effeminate. Did you ever see me wearing a dress or being a sissy? I’m not changing I’m just gay, it means I’m into guys that’s all it means.” He said finding it still uncomfortable to talk about it with his father but his father apparently had a need of talking about it. “How am I supposed to know what you do? You kept your whole self hidden from me! Who knows how you really are then. I have seen that gay show that Nisha and Jacqueline are always watching and they all dress like women and sew dresses and play women on the stage. And they are gossipy and girly and I don’t want to imagine my son like that, like some joke!” he almost shouted and Josh wanted to hit his head onto the plate of the table imagining his father had his whole knowledge of gay men from a television show about drag queens. “I’m not a drag queen, Chris isn’t a drag queen, most gay men aren’t drag queens. And I can’t even stitch a hole in my socks so how am I supposed to sew a dress. I’m not gossipy and not girly either. I’m just an ordinary man who loves other men alright and that I am attracted to my own gender is the only thing that you didn’t know about me I assure you.” The blond told his father who was drinking his coffee and still looked not too happy.

 

Nisha returned and sat down on the chair dressed in the dirndl again when Erwin looked at Joshua intently almost studying him. “Are you sure you really don’t like women a little? Have you even tried? I mean you can’t know if you haven’t …..” it was the black haired woman who stopped him this time laying her hand on her husband’s wrist. “Sweetie, no! Don’t say things like that. He doesn’t have to try, he just knows. You didn’t have to try to sleep with men to know that you’re not attracted to them did you?” she said to him in a gentle and quiet tone of voice and Josh’s father looked at her. “That is different. I’m a normal man!” he stated and Nisha patted his wrist. “He’s a normal man too.” She stated and smiled. “But…” she cut him off again. “No but!” the woman said and Weißenburg could see his father calming down a little and he was glad to know that Nisha would probably help him deal with this.

 

“Soooo…” his father then tried to find something else to talk about because he found the silence kinda odd between them right now. “Your boyfriend is Mexican?” he asked and Joshua shook his head. “No.” he answered and Will entered the conversation. “He said he is from Guatemala.” The hundred years old said. “You’re dating an immigrant from a third world country? That doesn’t really fit what you say in your campaign does it?” Erwin questioned because he found it odd. It made Josh get defensive though and he crossed his arms in front of his chest. “It’s not like I chose this relationship for my campaign or in any calculative way. I stumbled into it, I just turned out to really like this stupid journalist god damn it! And it’s not like he is a Muslim, I’d never date a Muslim so leave me alone with this.” The businessman told his father who raised his eyebrows, shook his head, looked at Chris who was running up and down in front of the restaurant with his phone and then patted his son’s back. “Well, I don’t care as long as it’s not a ….” And Joshua rolled his eyes and continued his sentence “….vegan! I know, I know.” And his father smiled.

 

As Christopher entered the restaurant again the blond man grinned widely and with a teasing glare in his eyes as he looked at the cute red face of the man who apologised and let them know that this had been his mother informing them that she was a sweet but really shouty woman. It had been clear to Joshua that this had either been his mum or one of his sisters but the way the other had flushed red by the incident was too cute. Weißenburg grabbed Chris’s wrist and pulled him over onto his lap, placing his head on the other man’s shoulder. “You’re cute when you blush like that.” he whispered into his ear and then he spoke in a normal tone of voice again. “I don’t mind if she’s shouty. You’ve just met my mother haven’t you, she is not exactly a quiet or calm one either, well, maybe not as shouty but still. “ he reminded him of his own embarrassing mother and then added. “As long as she won’t look at me as if she wants to strangle me to death with my own intestine it’s great progress.” The blond said with a laugh.

 

He had only ever gotten to know Ilay’s parents in private, Carlton’s he had only known from the Army and addressed by their high ranks and neither had known about his relationship with their son, and Ilay’s mother had hated him since she had only laid eyes on him, he had never had a chance in the first place. The businessman had found meeting his boyfriend’s parents weird as a concept in general and had not had wanted to but Ilay had insisted and had dragged him there. “When Ilay wanted to introduce me to his parents and he rang the doorbell, his mother looked me up and down and then slammed the door close in front of us right away. “ he remembered with a laugh. “It was incredibly charming really. And I wanted to leave immediately. I told Ilay ‘She saw me, she’s not a fan, we can go now.’ but he didn’t want to so he juggled holding me by my coat so I couldn’t escape the apartment building again while he was constantly attacking the door and yelling at his mum to open the door again. And when she did and I sat in their living room she had a really hostile aura and looked at me as if she wanted to murder me the whole time. Her husband tried to throw encouraging looks towards me from time to time but whenever he did she looked at him as if she’d murder him too.” The blond told Chris. “She also looked weird. If she had had black eye liner and black backcombed hair and piercings she could have been one of those Goths kids who like Victorian fashion. She was dressed all in black, had a collar that went under her chin and a long arse skirt and a wig over her actual hair.” He described her. Josh remembered having asked Ilay if his mother had cancer after the meeting because of that wig and Ilay had widened his eyes in shock and said “God, no of course not she’s healthy.” Having led Josh to assume she suffered from hair loss for other reasons and the man with the chestnut coloured hair had said that she didn’t suffer from hair loss either and her hair was fine after which Joshua had wanted to know why she wore the wig then and the other had looked confused for a moment before answering ‘modesty’ leading Josh to asking “Your mother wears fake hair over her real hair for modesty? Do I have to understand this.” What had made the other man laugh and he had told him he didn’t have to and Weißenburg had said that this was good because he didn’t.

 

“She also refused to address me by my name.” Joshua said. “So I think it’ll be difficult for your mother to make me feel even less welcome and accepted.” The blond guessed and then his father jumped in. “Wait! This woman acted like this and I was the embarrassing one? I didn’t even know you and that lawyer were a couple.” The man said and Josh turned to his father. “You yelled at him because of food!” he reminded his old man. “Only because I thought he was a vegan.” The man shrugged. “And I’ve learned from it you see. I have now clarified right away if your new lover is a vegan or not!” his father said proudly and Joshua wanted to facepalm again. Yes, his parents were incredibly weird and embarrassing too.

 

“Anyway…” Josh said. “What did your mother want? Is everything alright? She seemed upset!” the blond wanted to know. “And what are your plans for today?” the man was interested in learning what Christopher’s schedule for the rest of the day was.

[brinary]

He still really liked touching Joshua. Rubbing was just a gut-instinct but the actual action was making him feel so odd and dreamy. Imagine: Joshua Weibenburg reclining on the bed, Christopher rubbing his chest and stomach as he kisses his neck, while watching television. They are happy. Maybe he sits on Joshua's face afterward. Looking up at his boyfriend, he smiled with upturned brows. The flicker of relaxation he saw as he felt Joshua slowly untense made him giddy. "Your bold actions inspired me. I just had to drive the point home," he explained with a cheeky look in his eye. Joshua's answer made him roll his eyes as hard as possible, the greens disappearing momentarily as white shone for a steady second and his eyes came back down. "Great leadership skill through strong body language. Which you channel into pouting, fussing, and so on." Joshua was so llllaaaammmeeee, he wondered how many books the man had read in preparation from his apparently great role in mayoral office, or really even business in general. He said these things that sounded like they were straight out of "12 Ways to Become Better: Business Guru Edition" or some shit.

 

Luckily Will was just as exasperatedly amused as he was. Snickering, Chris watched the exchange before raising his eyebrows in anticipation of the answer. The smile spread from him more genuinely this time, tinged with the smallest relief, and he shrugged. "I'm rough and tumble-- be glad! I can keep you on your toes, make sure you don't lose that muscle memory anytime soon." He let his hand rest finally after assuring that the other man was alright, content with touching and being touched. It was only broken up by Nisha coming back down of course, which is when he tore his attention away from his lame boyfriend.

 

Now that he examined the rest of his family, it was easy to see where it all came from. It wasn't just Joshua's mother, but his Father who was incredibly expressive, and even Nisha for as long as she had been in Joshua's life seemed to gain the same vivid emotionality. Kris suppressed a wide smile as the restaurant owner visibly sagged with relief. Was it so horrifying? Probably-- he couldn't imagine either of them wearing a wedding dress. It'd have to be altered in Joshua's case, the guy was so damn tall. And the heels to match with his long, thin feet... And Kris himself was just inelegant generally. He didn't have that special ease. He'd walked in heels before, but wearing such long or heavy material seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. It must have been an amazing wedding, though. Will said it'd been on the beach, and the couple seemed to be deeply satisfied and happy with the overall outcome. Christopher was glad to be witness to such a scene. Not that he was at all thinking about himself or Joshua. He actually hadn't been until, well, he did. Then it made him want to melt. That was quickly snapped back as his Mother proceeded to call him and tear him to shreds.

 

The writer only caught snippets of the conversation happening without him by the time he left. Speaking with his mother was an exercise in hearing damage when she was angry, so the first step was to disengage any negative emotions, shift them to positive, and restart. Thankfully, all that and more occurred rather smoothly. Of all the people in his family, he was best at bringing her back down- most likely because he didn't respond with yelling in kind. The phone was passed and he realized it was going to be a group conversation as his Father started to speak.

 

"Hullo, Christopher. Your mother was ve-ry concerned about one of her energy fried readings, she said that you had new energy around you."

 

"Did she really?" Christopher carded a hand through his hair, knowing he and his Dad were probably sharing the same look of exhaustion. "Was this person Ms. Clarasso? Again?"

 

A sigh. "You know I try to... dissaude yo' mother from these--"

 

"Aye, que tu hablar-- give me! Dame-lo!"

 

"Don't use that shit Spanish around me-- you hang with Claro too damn much--"

 

As his parents bickered over the phone, Christopher had his arm against the side of the building and leaned against it, eyes closed. "Dad ju-- Dad, just give Mum back the phone. Dios Mio, por favor-- ay, Mama, please listen to me, I hate when you run to tell me bad things will happen. You know how paranoid I get," the writer said once he heard all the commotion settle.

 

"Is because Mama love you-- you know I love you, my darling," his Mother assured. And being the whore for affection and love he was, Christopher immediately lost his once chiding stance. Hand to his heart, he started walking again.

 

"Awe, I love you toooooo."

 

"Now hang -- what's the word for the, the flower batches, -mary? Pinches, wha--"

 

Which is the note Christopher walked back into the restaurant in. Addressing everyone obviously, he tried not to stare at Joshua. But when he was done, he squinted his eyes in a mock-glare, too. Grabbed, the writer unceremoniously dropped into the blonde man's lap. It seemed particularly indecent; they were both still riding the 'newly dating' high. Everything would lead back to sex. It was good Christopher was already so damn embarrassed, he wouldn't have to blush any harder than he was in that moment. Being touched warmed him significantly but the Hispanic still pinched Joshua for his whispered comment. "My Mother? No, she's incredibly sweet, she gives everyone a huge amount of passes. She'll probably spoil you rotten with food." The thought made him sigh bitterly. "She's always way nicer to other people. Nevermind-- I don't want you to meet her; I refuse to be replaced. As the youngest, I refuse." He aimed a glare at the other as if he'd already become best friends with his mother, an accusation in his expression.

 

Rationally, he couldn't imagine they'd get along swimmingly-- her broken English versus Joshua's flippant nature when describing jarring political ideas wouldn't mesh. Forget about his mother-- there were two whole sisters who'd tackle Weibenburg on sight if Chris came to the doorstep with them. And a dumb, sweet dog that doubled as a weapon when need be. Joshua would get pounced that instant. Then again, that image wasn't exactly a bad one. Seeing Joshua get put in his place was a past-time Kris was learning to greatly enjoy.

 

Joshua's story about meeting Ilay's parents made him chortle. That was super hilarious and momentously embarrassing to think about. Closeted Joshua Weibenburg meeting some poor sap's parents, having the mother slam the door on him, then being inside of the home of that same woman with a stagnant, uncomfortable air surrounding the entire meeting. What a mess-- it must have made the blonde feel like shit, even if it was funny to recount presently. "Sounds majorly uncomfortable," the man laughed. "Let's see if my parents can up the ante." He reached back and pinched the older man. Thinking about an angry woman dressed in all black with an obvious wig on was hilarious. In Kris's mind, it was this sort of plasticine looking wig, the ones that are shake and go out of their bags from Party City. He already felt a lot more prideful in how the hypothetical meeting between Joshua and his family would go. They were all really kind folk, even if they were odd and abrasive at first.

 

Or it could be a shit show, either way.

 

At the question about his activities for the day, Christopher checked his phone's calendar. "I have a few articles due today, just three, but two are in-progress edits and only one's final. I already did some errands earlier in the week, it's just sitting down and writing. Running through some research. If you want, you can come over, I'll make dinner. Maybe you can finally pick up some pointers." Glancing back at the other, his smile turned into a vicious smirk. "Although I'm sure you're hopeless if a restaurateur father didn't even help you with boiling water right." He relaxed against Joshua and typed in his phone, swiping around before holding it up for the man to look at. "Or we can order take-out from this place down the street and do something stupid, I have a Wii. And movies. You're going to distract me from work regardless if you do actually come over." A frown. "My apartment is small so if you complain about your head being too close to the ceiling, I'll kick you in the shins."

 

He observed the time and hummed. "It's just hitting mid-morning. It's a long day ahead of us, so if you have things to do, maybe we can meet up later in the afternoon?" Christopher raised an eyebrow. "I don't know your schedule. Don't tell me the infamous Joshua might actually be free for once."

[-Hideki-]

Noticing the pinch he received for pulling the journalist onto his lap and teasing him with how embarrassed and red faced he was only made him want to tease Christopher more and he had to hold himself back a little and left it at that for now. When he heard that the younger male’s mother would probably spoil him rotten with food a grin was to see on his pale face. “I really like being spoiled with food and I like people who spoil me with food.” He said and really did appreciate that. They didn’t really eat extravagant things when he was little because they couldn’t effort much and later in life he had come to love it when someone cooked for him and he got a delicious meal. When he was single his sister usually cooked for him or invited him over to eat with her and her children. She was alone too after all.

 

It was hilarious to see how Chris got when he expressed that his mother was always way nicer to other people and that he didn’t want him to meet her because he refused to be replaced. Joshua chuckled at that and let his hand run through the other man’s hair. “For a man who points out how expressive I am you are incredibly expressive yourself.” He remarked kissing his cheek quickly what made his father avert his eyes, and to Josh it got once more obvious that the other man could say what he want he was definitely uncomfortable with the fact that Josh was gay after all but the blond had the hope that he’d get over it and their relationship would return to normal again. “It’s pretty normal though that most parents are always nicer to other people than to their own kids I suppose. Look at my mum. She looked at me as if I was Satan and adored you. And my dad wouldn’t even make me hock when I was drunk and told me I’d only get bacon and eggs but then offered my friend to get to eat whatever he wanted the other night.” The other explained. “It’s totally understandable that you worry about her liking me too much because I am just incredibly awesome regardless though.” The blond winked then and his father had made himself look at them again hoping not to see more display of affection. “Didn’t you say the major was your ex in the kitchen?” Erwin asked because the description of his son’s supposed ex as a friend confused him. “He is an ex. We’re friends now though.” Josh let him know.

 

Josh snorted dryly when Chris commented on his first meeting with Ilay’s mother. “Ja, definitely was although uncomfortable would be an understatement.” He nodded. “I doubt that your parents can top that antagonism. It was top-notch enmity. “ the blond said. “And she was always like that to me when I saw her. But Ilay was around his mother often because she always wanted something and he did a lot of what she said while at the same time not wanting to deal with her alone so he did the sad puppy eyes and talked me into accompanying him.” Weißenburg told him shaking his head at the memories. “I always asked myself why she hated me so much because it couldn’t have been something I had done because she hated me the moment she saw me and I never thought of myself as that ugly you know.” Joshua sighed. “Turned out she hated every guy Ilay had ever introduced to her. Even Ilay’s other ex I’m friends with and I thought she must have actually liked him at least a lot better than me. But nope. She hated him too. He told me that although she didn’t slam the door close into his face she scrutinized and interrogated him and expressed her disapproval about his family being moderate and reformed and him being an Atheist as well as his clothes, his buzzcut, his everything basically. “ the businessman remembered what Ari had told him. The Israeli soldier had called Ilay’s mother a crazy hag. And he had explained to him that his own family was basically like Weißenburg’s with their Protestantism whereas Ilay’s mother was an orthodox fundamentalist he compared to their evangelicals. That had reminded Joshua of Pierce Portman – Josh had already been in the party although not a candidate for any office – and he had thought how he’d totally spend a year on a deserted island with Ilay’s mother over a day with Pierce Portman in a heartbeat. At least she didn’t try to force her ancient morale code into law and politics. And she didn’t advocate for torturing people into suicide what Portman did. But Ari had never heard about Pierce Portman, what a blessing that must have been to not know about that lunatic’s existence. But Josh had then ruined it for him and told him about the former evangelical pastor gone politician.

 

A smirk was spreading out on his face and Weißenburg laughed when the other told him his work schedule and then basically invited him over, telling him if he had stuff to do they could meet up later. “I’m not infamous. My voters love me alright! I even get fan mail. I never thought politicians got fan mail. I even got letters where people made marriage proposals to me. Well, one was from Terry though.” The businessman said laughing. “It’s a relatively quiet day today. However I have to head to the company and see the damage done. Some scum threw in several windows, broke stuff on my property and bombarded it with goatshit. So I have to talk to insurance and my lawyers.” The blond man informed the other. Then I just have an interview online with a young famous political commentator, Lana Scott, who works for Wolf News and is active on the internet. She has sent several request now so I said I’m gonna do it. There you have another fan of mine. I don’t get why people say I’d be a misogynist or hate women, women totally love me.” The blond told the other. “After that I’ll be free though. So make sure to finish your work till late afternoon or evening because I’ll drop by then and take you out on a date.” The blond decided. “And after that we can order some food, do stupid stuff and I can complain about your tiny loser apartment and my head nearly hitting the ceiling.” He added with a teasing grin.

 

Having made plans with Chris now he thought it was best to get going so that they could get to work so that they could actually go out in the evening, hence he told his family and got the reporter from getting off his lap to say their goodbyes. Josh patted his father’s shoulder hoping he’d really get to terms with having a gay son and Nisha got up from her seat, beamed at the both of them and hugged them tightly with all she got as if both men were some giant teddy bears, it didn’t matter though because she wasn’t exactly strong.

 

On the way to the courtesy car the businessman looked at Rosario and then held the door open for him. “You still haven’t told me what your mum wanted now and why she was upset with you?”he realised and got into the car himself after Chris. The way back to the reporters apartment didn’t take all too long though and when he parked in front of the apartment door his arm reached out and grabbed Christopher by the collar, pulling him over to kiss him deeply and lovingly. “I hope my family was bearable and didn’t scare you away.” He then said before he added. “See you later.” And when the other had left the car he waved him goodbye and drove to the company.

 

He had already been awaited and Kelsey flung a pile of reports onto his desk before he got to inspect the building and all damage together with her and the janitor who had kept the records of what had been destroyed the other day. Then he had to call insurance, send the reports to them, wait for the guy from insurance to arrive to inspect the damage too, then he sat down with his lawyers and was told he needed a lawyer for criminal law what led to Joshua searching for the card Ilay had given him but he could not find it because it was in one of his suits at home so he decided to just call Ilay so that he could give him the name and number of that lawyer again. Ilay answered the phone when Josh called the second time. “Is it about that journalist again? And there I thought reasoning with him might have worked.” he asked when Joshua wanted the other man to give him the name of the lawyer who had bought his law office. “No, it’s not about the journalist. I think reasoning with him did help after all, thank you.” Josh told him keeping the actual reason why this didn’t seem to be an issue anymore to himself and the other man sounded genuinely glad to hear that. “You’re welcome. What’s it about then?” Ilay wanted to know out of curiosity, because it was Josh. “My business got attacked. Windows thrown in! Shit had been thrown at it.” He explained and Ilay sighed. “That’s nuts. People are going nuts and dangerous these days.” The brunette told him. “I have watched that speech of yours. My mum liked it.” He told Joshua. “Which speech? And your mum watches my speeches?” the businessman was rather surprised to hear that. “The terrorist goatfucker speech!” Ilay told him. “And not really. Ari posted the livestream on his twitter together with a comment that showed all his poetic eloquence ‘Truth! (thumbs up emoji)’ and I clicked on it because I read your name in the title when I was at my parents and my mum listened and then wanted to watch the whole thing and I had to listen to it too. Not your best speech and not the best choice of vocabulary I have to say. Anyway, she doesn’t really like any candidate but she’ll actually vote for you because she agrees with you more than with the others especially Bernotti. She thinks Bernotti is an ISIS supporter. And after watching that speech of yours she stated that you might have actually been even somewhat better than Fabio after all and I should try to get you back if it meant I got rid of him - well she didn’t use his name - today when I went with her to the wigmaker to tell her that I’m gonna marry next month, where other people are around and there would be witnesses you see, but I lost all courage after that comment again. Oh, by the way, the wigmaker and some of the women who are clients there now know that we were a couple and I had to show them your speech and my mum embarrassed me because she presented her ‘Bernotti is an ISIS supporter’ theory in public.” For a moment Joshua was just laughing:”Man, really. Where did she get that from? The guy is a lot of things but as far as I know not an ISIS supporter. ” Before he realised how casually Ilay had let it slip that he had gotten outed to a part of his ex’s neighbourhood.

 

When he got the number from Ilay he called that lawyer and was told to drop by his office. On his way there he jumped into some shop to buy new sun glasses and a new beanie because his were still at Morrison’s house before he entered an office that looked exactly like it had looked when he had been with Ilay. The new guy had not changed much; he had apparently liked it how it was. His ex had not lied to him when he had said the man was great at his job and it also didn’t take long to figure out why he was that successful, because winning and success seemed to be all that mattered to him, he didn’t really have any scruple and maybe that was exactly what was needed to bring those left-wing terrorists and their stones and shit throwing friends to justice. It took a while in the lawyer’s office and he just made it punctually back to the company where his sister was waiting to prepare his hair and his face for the interview that he’d give, also pressing him a bag into his hand with something he had asked her to make without telling her why and what for and what confused her. The interview itself went incredibly smoothly. No uncomfortable questions at all, the young woman nodding agreeing throughout the whole session and everything seeming more like a teenaged fan of a trashy 90ies boy group getting to interview her idol.

 

Weißenburg arrived at Christopher’s place around 4:30pm, ice skates on the backseat of the courtesy car and dressed in the military pants, a black shirt, the leather jacket and the newly bought sun glasses and beanie as he walked to the door of the apartment building. When he pressed his finger onto the doorbell again he asked himself what the other would think or say if he figured that he had been in that club that night and had actually told him that he had been hot there already. It didn’t really matter though because when he was going out with the other somewhere public he wanted it to be a date where he could touch him and be like a couple together and to not keep his distance in fear of being identified and outed to even more people than already knew now anyway and those clothes he was wearing were the perfect disguise because they were so fundamentally different from what he was wearing nowadays that no one would connect them with him.

[brinary]

Joshua's grin and response made Christopher roll his eyes yet again. He did pocket that nugget for further use-- it was a good thing he'd tested his cooking skills that first date. Maybe ending a potential argument would be just as simple as putting a plate in front of Joshua. Which was something he would have done anyways, argument or not. He liked being cheesy in that way. "One of these days your metabolism is going to stagnate and all the pounds of food you consume will hit you right in the gut," he said dryly with another pinch to Joshua's stomach. "And then you'll have officially spoiled yourself with too much food. Then I can call you a piglet even though you're definitely taller-- you know, my Mom used to call me a piglet... I wonder if it was because I was- was it a height thing" Taking on a thoughtful expression, he was scanning his brain for answers before all thoughts shorted to focus on Joshua's hand in his hair. It immediately pleased him.

 

"Yeah, well." He didn't have much of a comeback, relishing in the affection and trying not to smile too hard. He was aware there was other company and for someone so keen on throwing themselves into public danger, Christopher was oddly... conservative. It was half born of nothing having had a relationship in a decade, even more that he was just embarrassed easily. His reactions were so strong to being touched or treated to a kind word that it seemed immediately obscene to him because anything and everything could potentially make him light-headed. Everything Joshua did made him light-headed, the core issue with being close to a man like Weibenburg. "Well," Kris began to argue, "It's different because she had prior knowledge about me and liked my work. But my Mom would treat any old rat I picked up off the street and presented to her like they were super-- ohhhh my god you're so." Christopher scoffed and rubbed between his eyebrows with a groan. "My sister will probably try to dropkick you, so there's a slice of humblepie," he finally managed to say. He met his boyfriend's week with a bland, blank facial expression that said so much without saying anything at all.

 

The man shook his head. "They could never. They think it'd be too rude. They'll talk shit when you're gone. Now my sisters... different stories." He listened patiently to Joshua describe Ilay's mother and nodded with a total understanding. There were so many family members he knew that ran exact parallels to people like her. Since most of the country was heavily Roman Catholic, the same sort of hard-corked scrutiny was aimed at all sorts of 'outsiders' that didn't fit into he mold the people scrutinizing expected. Christopher even had a hard time maintaining close friendships because of his indigenous roots. His Father identified with the older and more pagan rituals that went along with the overall tribal background. Thankfully his Mother had been a particularly open woman for her time, neither scared off by his religion nor opposed to learning more about and even integrating it into her own life. It was kind of funny to see how the tables had turned throughout the years with his Mother being more prone to superstition and energy readings, while his Father detested run-of-the-mill tarot cards and fortune tellers. They were both such mixed bags. Christopher himself wasn't particularly religious, but then again, his 'particularly religious' meant 'didn't attend Church every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.' The Catholicism had been knocked in deep, entangled with the totems and ancestor worship from his Dad's background. "Some people are just like that," he commented once the other had finished. "Maybe she's the stiff upper lip tight; really hard on others, scrutinizing, antagonistic... Stiff upper lip doesn't mean all those negative things, I think it's meant to describe being very strong. And I mean that, too. Maybe she is very strong. But also just cold. And tough. And... stiff."

 

Chris liked feeling the vibration of Joshua's laughter. It was so different from their initial caustic clash, the scowls and glares. Now it was enamoring. He felt himself practically melting at the freeness of it. "Famous to some, infamously known to others," the man muttered before quieting to listen to the other man. A hand curled around the back of the blonde's neck. Lightly rubbing as he listened, the writer slowly nodded in understanding then made a face at what Joshua said, snorting and glancing down at him. "... I'm not gonna touch that until later. But!" Inhaling slowly then exhaling, changing his grip to gently squeeze the man's shoulder. "Sounds good. Not the part about your office-- I'm sorry that happened, honestly. But the plan sounds good. I'll finish things up, you do your stuff, then text me when you're on your way," he finished then added teasingly, " So demanding. 'Make sure to finish your work," he mocked. "Okay, Teacher Joshua. Lame-ass." After that, the day began its transition into the evening. He got up from Joshua's lap to begin saying goodbyes to the entire family that still remained. He thanked Will one last time and respectfully nodded to Joshua's father, smile small before shaking his hand. Finally there was Nisha and the big hug. "Big" hug-- the woman was so slight that there wasn't exactly a crushing amount of pressure. Of course Christopher hugged back with a warm hum.

 

He gave a wave goodbye as he followed the older man back to the truck then climbed in. "Mm?" Kris glanced over then shook his head. "Oh, I mean it wasn't anything bad. I routinely call her in the mornings and she was pissed I hadn't. Then got angrier because I made an excuse," the man explained, eyes closing as he relaxed against the seat. "She was mostly calling to report that her weirdo friend told her that I had 'new chaotic energy' around me, and to be careful, hang rosemary, burn sage. Probably sensed you or something. or just making my mom paranoid again who knows." He yawned and squeezed Joshua's thigh, curling up in the seat. "I'm going to nap. I sleep fast."

 

And fast he was indeed, out within the first three minutes of the drive. His head rested against the window, neck craned at another uncomfortable looking angle as he dozed. Roused by the slow stop of the car, Kris stirred and yawned, blinking sleep away. Prepared to get out and say his goodbyes, he was startled by Joshua grabbing him. But the last few days had been a crash course in Weibenburg etiquette, so he was ready to return the kiss with a satisfied grin. Reaching over the console, Chris wrapped his arms around the other as best as possible and held him close before they parted. "I liked them," he said quietly before kissing Joshua's nose with a toothy grin. "Alright, bye-- remember to text me!" Giving the other a final kiss on the cheek and squeezing his leg, Kris popped out of the car and wound around the front. Waving as he went towards his complex's door, he took a minute to unlock it before entering.

 

 

Seeing his apartment with fresh eyes, Kris had a minor attack then began a frenzied cleaning. Christopher wasn't prone to flights of fancy and the inner panic-machine that loved jumping to extremes decided to say, 'well what if your mom's crazy friend was right all along?' This led to a complete layout change. Since many people were out of their homes and on with their busy days, Christopher got to shove his couch around without a care (although he did lift and pull because he wasn't an absolute ass.) The man went back and forth between his room, the living room, and the kitchen. His windows were thrown open to fan out the dust then doubled as a dry rack as he laid his carpets along their edges. He mopped and scrubbed the floors, poured down the wood varnish to get to buffing, and threw a load for linens in while remaking his bed. New pillowcases were pulled onto the exposed white things after they were fluffed out. Armed with multiple dusting and cleaning rags, as well as a mighty powerful broom, the man spent more than a few hours cleaning. What had been innocent tidying initially spiraled into an all out apartment re-think.

 

[...]

 

Kris brushed his hair in vain then grimaced at his reflection. Super fucking annoying. There were some products he could use, one being the mousse, which would be a sign of defeat if he actually indulged in using it. But that was better than watching his hair grow more and more monstrous. He'd done another wash out to see how the color was doing and indeed there was his natural hair color growing out evermore. It didn't clash against the dye's color thankfully but still.

 

Since he'd done his cleaning, he wanted to at least get his hair right before the date. It wouldn't be for another few hours but that didn't stop Kris from doing his hair up in rollers and proceeding with outfit picking. He didn't know what they'd be doing but whatever it was would involve some form of physicality. Maybe in the form of heavy kissing and grinding. No! No, no! Christopher shook his head with a dizzying speed and pinched between his eyebrows. No sex thoughts. Stop thinking about all the sex. Staring at his wardrobe, the man frowned at what he saw. "I'm so booooring." The groan was long and lengthy, slowly edging to the point of a gurgle. There were thankfully a pair of chinos that looked good, olive in color and comfortable, slightly fitted, but still casual enough not to be showing off. That, a belt, another crewneck and a comfortable jacket. With that settled, the man flopped down in his newly fixed living room (not much had changed, honestly, but it was good faith changes.) And then the rest of the time was spent writing. He wrote on the couch, wrote while he was submerged in the tub, a showercap fitted on his head and a tray stretched over the two sides. After drying, he sat and wrote in a robe, drinking a beer and wearing a face mask as he stared dead-eyed into the filtered light of his computer.

 

This. Was. Boring.

 

Being assigned to discuss his boyfriend's stupid political going-ons was becoming tedious. All he wanted to do was suck Joshua's dick. Was that too much to ask? Did he have to listen to some terrorist rant while he was getting his ass eaten? Was this completely meant for his personal torture!? He didn't want to know about this anymore!

 

Things were relatively quiet in his apartment. People were upstairs making commotion, downstairs moving around, and he'd kept the window open to hear the sounds of sweet and gentle nature. And cars. He just wanted to go out with his shithead boyfriend. Eventually things were edited, written, drafted and sent away. His face mask washed clean, the Hispanic settled on the countertop of his bathroom to undo his rollers. Brown locks were corkscrewed into tight batches and once they were combed out... Looked stupid. Kris glared at his reflection. Not only was his hair stupidly big now-- he looked like some 19the century Spanish painting. And especially the redness on his cheeks from the fresh wash. Ugh! He looked so... Flushed. It wasn't on brand at all.

 

Time was his to kill once he got dressed. It had just hit four past so Joshua probably wouldn't be close. Propped on the couch, eyeing his door warily, Kris let himself watch shitty videos about hair taming. He didn't actually get that far due to Joshua's timely intervention. Rising from the couch, the man snatched his keys up from the counter, played with his hair then opted to fit a baseball cap over it. Did it smush down all of his work? Yes. But that was the point. He began to make his ways downstairs after locking up. His heart was steadily beating, nerves making his hands feel shakey. It was just a date, with a man he’d had sex with no less! He shouldn’t feel like this.

 

Christopher had to double-take when he finally opened the door. His first instinct had been an indistinct terror, mixed with confusion and immediate arousal. Then he locked down his open surprise with a scowl and looked like wanted he really, really wanted to do was throw a punch at the other’s arm. Or bang his head against a wall. Instead, he opted for exclaiming, “You’re such a fucking douche!” He stepped back, pointing at him, raised his hands up and then pointed them both at the other. “What! The actual!-- Were you just not going to tell me and let me think-- you’re so-- why didn’t you--” catching his voice raising, he lowered it, the volume making his voice gravelly. “Why didn’t you tell me? Dios Mio, I am so… stupid, I should have just-- Ugh. UGH. And then you waltz up waiting like you knew I was going to-- you’re a cunt,” he said finally. “So rotten. Smug ass grin. You pulled the wool over my eyes, congrats.”

 

Standing there with a glare, he proceeded to open his arms and wrap his arms around the man’s neck, pulling him down into a heated kiss, teeth flashing against the other’s lip to nip at the flesh there before he pulled back. Still frowning, Christopher pinched under Joshua’s chin. “It’s a good look on you, though. But still, like, fuck you. You couldn’t have said something what, a few days ago while your dick was up my ass or something?” he stated sardonically, officially stepping back an eyebrow raised. “

[-Hideki-]

This time Josh didn’t have to wait that long and Christopher was appearing outside. The younger man however had only done as much as to open the door and step outside when he was coming to a halt staring at him with a mixture of shock, confusion and what seemed like he was getting turned on. The dropped jaw and the way the other looked at him alone made the pale man in his disguise grin cockily at the journalist who then proceeded to express the feelings he had about the mysterious stranger from the gay club and Joshua Weißenburg being one and the same person. The brunette was calling him a fucking douche, pointing at him and then he waved his arms around, pointed both hands at him as he went on about if he had not wanted to tell him, why he didn’t tell him, followed by some insults and congratulations. It made the businessman laugh wholeheartedly at the dramatic reaction this had gotten him, not to mention how obviously aroused the man had gotten the moment he had seen him like that despite the fuss he made about him not telling him.

 

“Are you finished?” he asked still smirking and chuckling as Christopher glared at him before the other man finally stepped forward, slung his arms around Weißenburg’s neck and pulled him down, kissing him heatedly. Josh’s blue eyes closed and he indulged in the kiss, his arms wrapping around Rosario’s waist, his hands running down to the man’s luscious arse, groping and kneading the arse-cheeks, spreading them with his hands as he was wildly kissing the man back, feeling how he was getting hot from the kiss, lusting for more but he had made plans for them so this had to wait until later although he wanted to rub against the man and get to face fuck Chris’s wet mouth and tight throat while sucking that delicious dick of the other man at the same time rather bad. He had even dreamed about them giving each other head until his stupid sister had woken him with her call and had totally ruined their dream-selves orgasms.

 

Feeling Rosario nipping his bottom lip as the kiss broke only made his blue eyes flash up hungrily and dangerously and it definitely didn’t help calming his desires down that were roaring in his chest but made him want to kiss the other again but the reporter was pulling back, Joshua’s hands sliding from his arse as he let go. The brunette was still looking at him with a frown and Josh raised his head when the journalist was pinching his chin, telling him that he looked good in the attire he was wearing right now only to scold him and tell him that he could have said something for example when he had his cock buried inside of the younger man’s arse. Weißenburg was laughing at that as he took the other man in at the same time. The baseball cap wasn’t quite fitting his outfit and was also hindering his sight into the intense green eyes and the cute freckled face he liked so much but other than that he looked good, much more appropriate for a date than Josh looked in the camouflage pants, military boots and the leather jacket. “Of course, that would have been the perfect moment. I can totally see it, while I was penetrating your arse I should have moaned into your ear ‘And by the way, that middle aged stranger in the camouflaged pants that night in that stupid gay club you have been so sweet and helpful to and who only had to touch your shoulder to make your body tremble, that was actually me’ and I would have totally been able to form a coherent sentence like that while I was exhausting myself in you.” He found the mere idea and scenario amusing to paint further.

 

“There is no particular reason I didn’t tell you though. I just didn’t deem it important or necessary and I didn’t want to.” He shrugged. And he really had not wanted to. That night had definitely not been glorious to him and the circumstances which had made him enter that stupid kindergarten of a club had not been fortunate for him either and it didn’t make it better that Chris had been at fault as well. He remembered it clearly how outraged and paranoid and just fucked up he had felt the entire day. How that had made him drop by his ex’s place for legal advice, what he wouldn’t have done had Christopher’s criminal actions not pissed him off that much, then he had almost made out with his ex but had been rejected in the last moment in a really degrading way with the fucking engagement ring pressing against his face while Ilay had been in shock about himself because he had almost risked his engagement and relationship because being around Josh wasn’t safe for him in that regards as he had wanted Joshua to shove his tongue deep into his mouth and fuck him into the sofa until the thing was so filthy that he had to throw it away and buy a new. Then Weißenburg had gotten, despite that never ending tension between the two of them, rubbed into his face how the other’s new guy delivered everything he had not and it had hurt like hell and only added to the frustration. Not to mention that the whole thing had ended with him climbing out of the window of Morrison’s bedroom with a strained back. He’d much rather burry that day and not think about it anymore ever. Although the moment with Christopher in that club had actually been quite pleasant in retrospective and he liked to remember how he had breathed into the man’s ear, how flustered the other had been and how easy it had been for him to make the journalist hot for him.

 

“Although it was certainly interesting how sweet, almost shy you were when you thought it wasn’t me. And how easily you got turned on, you must really like that outfit.” He teased the man but then took his hand, moved his head into the direction of the street. “Let’s get going.” He then said and walked to his car with Christopher that was parked a little away from the building because he had not found a parking space directly in front of it. When they had gotten to the car and were on their way to the ice rink that would take a while because it was a little more outside of the city centre he came back to something that Chris had postponed onto later. “You seemed to disagree with my statement that I am not a misogynist and that women are totally into me and wanted to touch that later. So here is the perfect opportunity as we have some time to kill.” He said rather curious what the man had to say about this because he found that all the misogyny accusations were complete bullshit and defaming lies.

 

When they arrived at the ice rink the parking space in front of it was only moderately filled and it looked like it’d be a good atmosphere to go ice skating, much better than when it was too full. He parked the courtesy car close to the entrance, opened the door for Chris, closed it again, then got his ice skates from the back seat and the cloth bag that his sister had given him. “Just give me your shoe size and I’ll buy you some ice skates at the shop there. Those you can rent are trash and disgusting too.” The self-made billionaire found and took his lover’s hand in public – damn how long had it been that he had done that, how long had it been that he had done something so casual and commonplace at all – and went inside of the building. It didn’t take long to buy the journalist ice skates but it took a while to stand in line and the stupid barrier kept him from cutting the line and bullying himself the way to the front. Normally he was a great fan of barriers and fences and walls but now this thing was a little in the way because he had to wait and if there was something he hated and that made him unbearably impatient like a child on a long trip in the car it was having to wait somewhere.

 

Finally in the hall he realised that it seemed to be 90ies ice party evening and night or something as there was loud Eurodance music playing and colourful lights were reflecting on the ice. “Well, wasn’t expecting that.” he said. “Not that I mind.” Joshua said looking at the people who were already skating and enjoying themselves. The 90ies had been Weißenburg’s teenage years, he had become a legal adult in the 90ies too and he had fond memories about it regardless of the shit he had been through during that time too so he liked the theme because it reminded him of his youth. So he wasn’t only dressed like back then, he was also listening to the same music that had been popular back then now. When he was looking for a bench to sit on and exchange his boots for the ice skates he realised that he was still holding that bag that Jacqueline had given him. The blond man got tense and he was pursing his lips and thinking about how to do this before he took a slight breath and pulled something out of the cloth bag. “Here! For you!” he barked out and pressed a plush toy raccoon against Chris’s chest, his eyebrows narrowed, one twitching, his face rather strained and he felt a blush coming and turned around. “You like those plush things don’t you. I paid Jacqueline to make this. So it’s unique, it doesn’t exist a second time. If you hate it or don’t want it just fling it into the trash or sell it on ebay or something. Rather sell it then you at least make some money.” the businessman said and now his face was flushed as he was mumbling to himself “I fucking suck at this being romantic stuff. Shit. Why did I even try…” as he was walking to the bench where he changed the shoes his cheeks were still glowing and he felt the urge to put the cloth bag over his hat, his face and the sunglasses.

 

Taking his time to put the ice skates on gave his face the opportunity to turn white again, he waited for Chris and when they were at the entrance of the skating rink he firmly slapped his hand onto Rosario’s hot arse, giving it a squeeze, earning shocked and outraged gazes from some mothers with their children but he didn’t really realise as he was already on the ice and starting to get warm, before he remembered something about the long arse conversation Christopher and he had…. His boyfriend couldn’t ice skate or roller skate and he had just left him at the entrance, ups! The blond man made his way back to the entrance and reached out his arm to the shorter male for him to link his arm with his. “Sorry, I forgot that you can’t skate.” He apologised. “I only go here with fucking Terry, haven’t been on a date here or elsewhere since years as I told you and Terry probably had ballet lessons or something at least that’s how his ice skating looks like.” Weißenburg told the other.

[brinary]

Fortunately they were in public, so Christopher couldn’t indulge in jumping Joshua in that moment. In the moment it seemed like a criminal injustice but he quickly regained his more rational sides, already reddened at the fact that he had even been so bold. Joshua brought out some awful parts of his personality. Like the neediness that sprang in him when the man held him closer, that flare again to just rut against the other when his ass was groped. Even more lewd was being spread. He was practically drooling into their kiss, wanted to drop to his knees and shove every inch he could of Joshua’s cock into his mouth. Or be stepped on. At this point, any form of physical contact was fine by the man- and he already had a nasty masochistic streak. Those boots that Joshua had on, too? Oh yes. He could imagine being stomped in those and honestly having no qualms. Having to pull away felt absolutely criminal. But he felt that if they went any longer, it would have ended in frotting against the entry to his apartment.

 

Back to being teased! “It would’ve been better than springing up on me, I think,” he retorted with an angry blush beginning its slow burn across his cheeks. “But fine, whatever. You masterfully disguise-d yourself from me and I fell into your intrepid trap. He was definitely frowning still but it was better than what his mind kept wanting him to do, which was stare at Joshua and how good he looked. More rugged than need be but was the man beautiful in casual clothes. The stiff businessman gone deranged with pleasure and lust was one thing. For some unspeakable and unthinkable reason, Kris found himself really really liking this particular get-up. He liked it in the club, too. His stomach felt tight just thinking about that night. Tight and right. “Ugh, shut up,” he grumbled but his smile finally broke through. Squeezing the other’s hand back, he followed him up the road and into the comfortable car. He curled up like he did the last time, shifting and leaning back in the passenger’s while Joshua began driving. At the question, his eyebrows shot up because had that really been on his mind? Had he really been thinking about that? But he did say that, so… “Well,” Christopher began, adjusting his cap. “I think the women that like you only like you because you’re really hot, and because your political opinions allign with theirs. And with you being a misogynist, I don’t think you hate women. But your disgust towards their body parts is misogynistic at its most fundamental, dictionary definition-- a dislike or prejudice. No one can even mention a woman’s genitals without you getting a little sickly looking. He outlined his points neatly, since they were simple to parlay.

 

“I’m sure there’s another word for gyno-opposed,” Kris joked, “and I think it fits your entire mindset a lot better. But I can’t think of it and I probably don’t even know it. I didn’t major in women’s studies.”

 

He hadn't remembered ever asking what they’d be doing, so seeing the ice rink made his stomach drop. This was going to be the cutest thing ever! They’d have so much fun and drink hot chocolate and Joshua could complain about being cold and Kris could nuzzle up to him for warmth purposes and it’d be just so god-darn cute. But. Also. Christopher Rosario could not skate to save his damn life. His excitement couldn’t be totally collared, though, and he went around the car to join the blonde. Their hands met, fingers intertwining, and his eyes shone up at the other from just how nice this was. “I’m a size 10. I’ll pay you back-- thanks for this.”

 

While the disembodied voice of Haye yelled at Chris to ‘SUCK HIM DRY!!! LET HIM SPOIL YOU!!! HE’S MEANT FOR SUGARING AND YOU’RE THE PLAIN DOUGHNUT LET HIM POWDER YOU BITCH!’-- well, it was harder to let old habits pass by. As they walked to the ice rink to pick up the skates, Christopher lightly swung their hands, aiming a grin up at his boyfriend as they waited in line. It was obviously driving Joshua crazy after just about a minute of standing- which was cute. Antsy and obviously impatient, the 40-year-old potent agitation was making him giggle seemingly at nothing.

 

Inside of the iceskating rink reminded him of the regular roller-rink that his sister would drive him off to, back when he’d been in middle school. It was different in some respects-- the roller rink had been carpeted in a nasty, gaudy low shrug that probably didn’t get cleaned as often as it should have. Instead of gross pizza, it was gross pizza AND hot chocolate. Of course the temperature was quite a bit different too. He had loved the place as a kid; there had been arcade machines and shitty crane games and late at night, the professional skaters would come out with their rollerblades decked with lights and gadgets. He’d been a kid during the 90s, just breaching adolescence and new to America, but even throughout the 2000s and, to this day, the place remained a time capsule of his childhood. There’d never been roller skate rinks anywhere near his old home in Guatemala and so that was one of the biggest bookmarks in his memory: the roller skating rinks. Being back in a similar setting filled him with the same sense of nostalgia. “Did you forward them your playlist?” He shot a smile at the other before walking with him to the benches. "I liked the 90s. It saw my first introduction to America," he mentioned offhandedly. "And it was socially accepted to wear a fanny pack. Man. Do I miss those amazing years."

 

Their hands separated, Christopher was trailing behind him with an aimless gaze. He found a bench first and set his skates down so he could begin the process of tugging his own shoes off. It was interrupted however. He felt Joshua tense next to him and was about to ask what it was, dreading another appearance from Ilay or some other person from the past, but it ended up in a raccoon pressed unto his unprepared person. Gripping it, green eyes narrowed at the toy then went to Joshua, eyebrow raised as the other began his explanation.

 

Patiently, Christopher listened, then quietly followed the blonde to the bench. Resisting the urge, he didn’t comment on Joshua’s reddened state but instead leaned down and pressed his lips to the other’s jaw, peppering little kisses up to his cheek then landing one on his mouth. The hand not holding the stuffed animal held the other’s face and moved it to look up, the younger man gently patting his boyfriend’s cheek. “I love it.” Smile honest, he leaned forward to give a quick embrace to Joshua. “It’s amazing. I’ll treasure it.”

 

Joshua Weibenburg paying for his skates was a separate issue all of its own. Joshua Weibenburg, boyfriend extraordinaire, paying his sister to make a stuffie of a raccoon? The absolute epitome of a Man. Ugh. When they were alone, booooyyyy, he was going to suck the SOUL out of the man.

 

The fox remained perched on his lap as he took a seat near Joshua on the bench, changing into his own skates with a fond smile. As the other got up, he hastened his iceskate tying and made sure to tuck his shoes (and the raccoon) somewhere safe. Hobbling forward, he gave Joshua his most confident smile before promptly yelping at the slap to his ass. “Josh!” he hissed, flailing forward before gripping on to the entrance to the rink. But of course his companion was already off and away, skating seamlessly. He looked gorgeous and totally at ease. It was really embarrassing to be so shit compared to your lover; each and every day, Joshua proved he was better than Kris at the things that truly mattered- like speaking, and now ice skating. So he went out on the ice.

 

It was bad.

 

Holding onto the edge with large, unblinking eyes, his expression was pitiful as soon as Joshua turned back. He reached for his arm immediately and almost fell even with one hand on the barrier. Christopher’s fist twisted into Joshua’s jacket, a grip that surely would have been bruisig had it been human skin. “It’s okay,” he said although he was obviously tense. People skating past made him flinch and moving his feet was hard. Trying to get used to the frozen death trap, Christopher slowly loosened his hold on the man’s jacket, speaking with barely contained stress. “This is fine. It’s completely fine. Fun music, good boyfriend, just like walking but with knives--” Some skirted by incredibly fast, weaving her way through the crowd with skillful artistry. It was, however, frightening for Christopher who jumped so hard he couldn’t recover his balance, collapsing on his back with a leg half bent and a big ‘OOF!’ Since they weren’t so far from the wall, Joshua didn’t completely fall over like his partner, what with the support, and Christopher quickly recovered, staggering as he got up before holding onto Joshua more fiercely. “Sorry! I’m sorry.” Hat knocked askew, curls escaping, and face contorted in panic and embarrassment, Christopher looked like a PSA for things to NOT do at an ice skating rink-- which was mostly panic.

[-Hideki-]

“Exactly!” he nodded his eyes still focussed on the traffic when Chris told him that he thought the women who liked him only liked him because he was hot and because of his political opinions. “What definitely means that my campaign and my views aren’t misogynistic like your female leftist journalist friends are writing about me over and over again, otherwise women wouldn’t be into my politics and wouldn’t vote for me obviously. But I’m really popular with them too, especially the women from my party, they think I’m a god basically. One giggled and squealed at me like a teenager and she was as old as I am.” Josh described with a grin on his face. He loved that positive attention and admiration that he got from women from his party. His narcissism loved the gazes they gave him although he had no interest in them at all. It pushed his ego to know that if he wanted to he could get them all in a heartbeat.

 

What followed the first part of his reporter boyfriend’s explanation left him with confusion and surprise and he didn’t get it. “Wait, what?” he expressed and looked towards Chris for a moment and had to force himself to look back onto the streets. “You interpret my discomfort and aversion to the idea of having to deal with a woman’s private anatomy as misogyny and a prejudice against women?” he asked for confirmation because it sounded that absurd to him that his sexuality was now misogyny too. “You’re even taking it further to a more extreme than your colleagues huh?” the businessman remarked. “I disagree with that. This doesn’t mean that I’m prejudice against women or that I dislike women, I totally respect them my sister does a great job bringing up her children and she cooks well too and she keeps her home perfect although she doesn’t have a cleaning lady, she is a nurturing person really caring, I could never do that like her, I just don’t want to see or know about their privates because those are unappealing to me.” Joshua stated. “But according to your logic some dyke who doesn’t like cock and doesn’t want to suck dick would be a misandrist too. Or is that another popular leftist double standard?” he found.

 

A laugh came from him when the other was starting to go on about semantics and that there might be a better term for Weißenburg being grossed out by women’s genitals than misogyny but that he didn’t know it because he didn’t graduate in women’s studies. “I know the word that perfectly describes this although I have never majored in women’s studies either – gay! Or another one homosexual!” the blond said amused because on top of that he was imagining a Christopher who had been in women’s studies. It was unappealing, really unappealing and somehow he really looked like a man hating dyke in this scenario and was sitting in the seminar room where his mother was talking right now together with a lot of bitter, angry women who were lesbians for the politics but deep inside were longing for cock, like Jiles would have probably accurately pointed out. That was really a phenomenon that had baffled him when he had first heard of it. Some sore chicks who hated men “deciding” to become dykes because men were the devil and the enemy in their worldview. He really asked himself how those ‘political lesbians’ even managed that to be with someone they weren’t actually into for political reasons and because they hated men and he also wondered why the real, actual lesbians weren’t pissed off about this at all as it made being homosexual seem like a choice and a joke what it wasn’t. Then he also had never heard about the male equivalent to this. Straight guys who hated chicks so much and saw them as the devil that they went and fucked other men even though they weren’t into them, probably because it wouldn’t work out, was illogical and fucked up and only something women could come up with when they had their periods or whatever other stuff ruined their ability to think rational and make them so emotional.

 

After they had arrived, gotten out of the car and Josh had taken the other male’s hand telling him that he’d buy him new ice skates the journalist told him that he’d pay him back. Josh came to a halt for a moment, turned his head around and looked down into the shorter man’s green eyes with a serious expression. “No need to.” He said. “We are a couple now aren’t we? So don’t you start with that too.” The blond man clearly stated. He’d understand it if he was poor or broke and could barely even buy shit for himself but he was not, he was a billionaire. “It’s enough my family won’t let me pay for them. And back then Ilay always said he’d pay me back everything too. How though? How did the guy even want to do that he was constantly broke! Not because he hadn’t gotten paid well but because he was completely incompetent with money, couldn’t keep it together and bought a lot of useless stuff he didn’t need but felt guilty for letting me pay. I once did his bookkeeping because he was fucking crying and had gotten desperate trying it himself; it took me days to bring order into that mess.” The businessman told the other. “So let’s not. When we’re on a date and I buy stuff for you don’t think of paying it back. And if you ever buy me a chocolate bar somewhere I promise I won’t insist on paying you back either. Deal?” Weißenburg suggested.

 

When they finally had arrived inside of the ice rink – what had been an eternity of waiting in line for Josh – and the first impressions of the place as well as the music was floating over them he couldn’t help but to grin and shake his head at the teasing remark the other made about Weißenburg having send them his playlist. “How do you know that I secretly love to listen to shitty 90ies Eurodance music to feel young again from time to time? Did you stalk me again?” he jested poking Rosario’s side with their intertwined hands. His grin turned into a rather sweet smile though when the brunette man told him about how he liked the 90ies and had first gotten introduced to America back then. “Cute.” He remarked and he also realised that they were nearly a decade apart in age after all. “I like the 90ies too; I had many of my first times back then, became a soldier and met Foxy in the Army and I got a new stepmother too.” The thin lips curled up and his expression got a little nostalgic for a moment. “If you think about it you have this in common with Nisha. She first saw America in the 90ies too but she was 21.” He remarked.

 

Having made this bold attempt to be romantic and attentive what made him want to burry himself now because he had totally fucked it up and was just horrible at it he was sitting on the bench and his cheeks were fucking radiating. He’d probably get dumped and then replaced by another Italian with a bloody stupid accent again, maybe that one would own a pizza restaurant instead of an ice café. Caught up in his thoughts he had almost not realised Christopher approaching but when the other was standing right before him he realised him, inhaling his smell trying hard to make the gaze on his boots and the ice skates look natural and not as trying hard to avert his eyes after that whatever he had been trying to do there. Joshua had no idea what he thought Rosario would do but he had not expected him to press an endearing kiss against his jaw followed by a row of kisses on his red cheek before he felt those soft, sweet lips pressed against his own, kissing Christopher back eagerly when he felt the younger man’s hand on his cheek making him look up to him giving the journalist a full view of how his face had blushed although it had calmed down some. A smile spread out on his face when the other man told him that he loved the plush toy raccoon, that he found it was amazing and that he would treasure it. So maybe he had not fucked up that bad after all and he was feeling really glad that the other seemed to genuinely like this, his heart beating fast and heavily in his chest.

 

Finally on the ice and back at Christopher the man almost stumbled forward clinging onto his arm right away but he still nearly managed to fall down. Christopher’s skating skills were honestly worse than he had imagined when the man had said he couldn’t drive. Then again he didn’t mind at all. Weißenburg couldn’t help but to find the clumsiness rather cute, not to mentioned how he tried to assure him that everything was fine and told him that he was a good boyfriend. Heck, the clinging onto his arm and how the man was holding tight onto the leather of his jacket he liked, it catered to his protective side and made him smile stupidly as his large eyes behind the sunglasses looked at his boyfriend trying to find some balance and a way to move forward on the ice. Only falling forward with the other and trying to hold the other man up as good as possible got him out of that state. As the both were standing straight again he looked at Chris and saw a panicking expression and embarrassment on his face as he apologised. “Nothing happened, it’s all good.” He assured him, stroking a curl out of his lover’s face, staying still where they were for a moment to give the man the opportunity to calm himself again. Then he pointed towards the other people who were driving. “Maybe take a minute and look at their feet for a moment.” He suggested and then pointed at his own feet and how he stood on the ice and then onto Chris’s and how he was attempting to stand on the ice but wouldn’t be standing safe if Josh was to let go of him and the wall wasn’t there. “Place your feet differently and then try a sliding motion and less to actually walk on the ice because that won’t work.” The blond tried to give the other constructive instructions but it wasn’t that easy to explain something that he had learned by himself when he had been a kid.

 

“Take a breather, relax and try not to think so much about falling down.” He said. “I learned this as a kid. My family and I always used to go to that pond. We only had trashy ice skates but we could afford a subway ticket for the family a few days in winter and go there to drive on it when it had frozen. Well, it’s not advised to ice skate on a pond because you could break through but we still did it. I fell down a lot when I first tried but I always stood and tried again. Actually, I even fell when I had been able to skate because I was getting a little too overconfident.” The blond told the other before he told him hold on to the wall again so that he could change his position and was driving reversed, looking into Chris’s face, reaching out his hands, taking both of the younger one’s hands into his. “That way you should be able to learn it better.” Weißenburg said smiling encouragingly, hoping the brunette found any of what he had told him helpful. Josh found that it looked already a little better than at the beginning though and they were getting forward even if only slowly. With a cocky smile he then pulled the other closer towards himself by his hands so that their bodies touched, wrapping his arms around him, kissing him but taming his tongue that unfortunately had to stay in his own mouth. Then he took off Christopher’s baseball cap to mess with his curly hair until he put it back on the wrong way round to be able to look into the handsome freckled face better, taking the man’s hands into his own again.

[brinary]

Joshua was such an attention whore. The man seemed like he needed a form of validation at every turn, obviously relishing in the memory. Kris stared at the other with a lackluster expression, eyebrow eventually quirking up as if to say ‘Really?’ Not for nothing, Joshua was cute and all, and charming sure, but he couldn’t imagine freaking out over anyone as much as some of his fans did. He only freaked out over Joshua because of their new developments. And because the man was such an oddball. The parts that he found most attractive weren’t for public consumption, though. Like when the other got embarrassed and that obvious redness made an appearance. Or his excitement over little things. When he liked to curl around him, or his finicky, long feet bumping against his. Those were things Kris would squeal about. Not… Joshua’s political hot takes. It was really fun to knock him down just a little with a hot take of his own.

 

Which was cool. Christopher didn’t take it hard any when Joshua’s incredulous expression was turned towards him for the briefest moment. “No, I’m just saying they’re rooted in the dictionary definition of it. Kinda. It’s not even discomfort, and not dealing with it. People just talking about anything female-part related makes you want to throw up; that’s way beyond ‘aversion’ and ‘discomfort,’” he countered as he leaned against the door. As Joshua elaborated, he shook his head. “A woman not being interested in dick isn’t the same. If they wanted to throw up just thinking about them or at the mention of them, then yeah. It’s stupid. Like you being scared of the word va-geen-yah.” Kris took on a screwed up expression, rolling his eyes. “‘Iws thwat anothwer popuwalah weftist dwouble swandard? I’wm a gwon mwan and Bwosoms Scware Mwe.’ I should just text you medical journal pictures of female anatomy in the middle of the day and see if new reports talk about Mr. Weibenburg going green in public over some mysterious source. Maybe it’ll spawn some conspiracy theories about your health and fitness for office, and you can handle that media storm,” he retorted with a toothy grin.

 

“Oh my god, it isn’t being gay, lame-o. There’s gay men and lesbian women who don’t want to puke or go on long, tangential tirades about how disgusting they find the opposite sex organs to be. There’s just a particular brand of Weibenburgian Gay that you happen to have that takes being gay to extreme heights.” Christopher was no longer even the littlest bit annoyed because Joshua’s laugh made his world feel better and he was smiling himself, so happy to be in the presence of that laugh because it was so happy and cute and ugh. His boyfriend was so cool. Even when he was being stupid-- he was still being stupid! He should call him out on it more but there wasn’t the desire for it; the blonde man had ruined any chance of Christopher broadening his well-thought out argument with one single laugh. Criminal! It was purely aggressive how much Joshua made himself likable. He wondered to himself if they would have been friends in high school. The accolade collecting messy English brat that he’d been, always too stiff and too busy to even attend his classes sometimes. Meeting an equally as stuffy, ramnunctionious and dedicated young man like he assumed Joshua was like. Probably also exceptionally horny. Maybe it would have been the same dynamic playing out right now; a hard clash for several months and then a sudden breakthrough, led purely by chance, and also by hormones.

 

When they’d gotten out of the car and prepared to pay for their skates, he thought what he said was really by the book. What a response to simply acknowledging the IOU circumstances Kris had set up. His eyebrows lifted in surprise and then furrowed, his entire expression changing to befuddlement and mute surprise. Granted, there were always large personalities that surrounded and sometimes smothered Christopher’s presence, even power. But he was always used to catering to them. If anything, he refused to anything that would be over four dollars. Someone being terse at him saying that he’ll pay them back… wasn’t new, per se, but Christopher respecting it was new. And he found himself respecting it. He found himself slacking, backing down, after the surprise had begun to trickle away. That was the most disturbing development of them all, that he caved like a bitch. He stuttered an answer but nothing really came out as he watched Joshua talk about Ilay and his family and balancing books. Organizing things. Ilay crying. Who really cared? Joshua was being weird and assertive about money stuff, which would usually incite an argument but it mostly left Christopher feeling mollified and odd. “... Yeah, sure. Deal.” He nodded to keep his claim concrete. “Yes, absolutely, deal.” Did he just agree to be treated to stuff without demanding that he be allowed to repay? No. Christopher had to-- he just had to. Maybe this was how people did things, sexual favours for IOUs.

 

Joshua was so cute and Kris liked him a lot. A lot. He felt like he was wilting, turning inward, or blooming, curling into the other man’s presence.Even with his terror on the ice rink, he was unquestionably happy. He liked being close. And even after such a horrible spill on the ice, panic making him buzz colder, the other man’s gentle assuredness flushed him warm. His smile was shaky, not totally reaching his panicked eyes, but at the very least present.He tried to focus on the other-- his hands, his grip on him. Joshua was sturdy- Joshua wouldn’t let him fall. Instead, Weibenburg was giving him good advice, at least as good as he could give. His eyes didn’t want to leave the other’s familiar existence but he forced himself to watch. Slowly, slowly, and carefully, he trained his posture while listening to Joshua speak. Although it was a setting of poverty, the entire family outing sounded sweet. “I like to imagine little boy Joshua falling on his ass,” he responded quietly. “It’s cute.” He was obviously distracted by trying not to make a fool out of himself again, briefly panicking at even the instruction to just hold the wall. Once the blonde had slid in front of him and was facing him, Christopher had to fully confront his fears-- trusting someone.

 

Here it would be that anyone, his sister, mother, friend, or father, would yank their hands away for the thrill of watching the writer eat dirt. But it was a sobering joy that Joshua wasn’t pranking him. In fact, he was actually being incredibly sweet.

 

Taking the man’s hands, Christopher looked at him with pursed lips that were caught between smiling and screaming. Stationary for a moment, slowly he began to actually move his feet in an attempt to mimic the others around him. Since he didn’t immediately fall, he slowly pushed himself more, chewing at his lip before nearly yelling as Joshua pulled him forward. Already having propelled himself little by little, he landed squarely against the other man and then found his lips being caught in a sweet kiss. Indignant though he was, the younger man stared up at the other with a sardonic half-smile, feigning his aggravation before he skated forward again- this time his curls poking through the hole of the cap, the lip pulled around to the back of his head. “You’re an ass,” Christopher grumbled as he teeteringly let himself be led by Joshua. A few more minutes were spent with him just trying to skate, slowly getting a hang of it, but still keeping a tenacious grip on Joshua’s hand.

 

“Hey.” He was staring at his feet now, measuring his skating, watching what worked and what didn’t. “I like you a lot,” he stated. “Even if you are a big ass without a big ass. If we do move in together one day or something, though, I wear socks around the house and fall asleep with my laptop. And I’m telling you this because I’m preparing you for everything.” Slowly he let the other’s hand go to continue at his crawling pace- this time independently. "I'm also telling you this because if I die on this ice rink, I wanted you to know those things."

[-Hideki-]

The blond man felt really misrepresented by how the other put his repulsion of female private anatomy and it made him want to say ‘lie’ and ‘fake’ again as if it was already a connection wired in his brain to say that whenever someone said something that he felt was an inaccurate depiction of him and how he himself saw himself. “I don’t want to throw up when I hear such things, throwing up is obviously really unpleasant, it just makes me gag automatically.” He started. “And I’m not scared of that bloody word I just think it’s a really disgusting word. And you leftists are the last people to talk about someone’s disgust about a word. At least I’m not advocating for banning this hideous word. While your beloved colleagues piss their panties at every of my speeches because I said words that they can’t deal with wanting to silence me and ban the word.” Josh argued and then put on a really dump, mentally challenged sounding voice, doing some weird gestures – what he had to take his hands from the steering wheel for - and facial expressions as to mimic Rosario’s colleagues as he saw them. “You said the word retard, this is really really evil, it’s a bad word, don’t say bad words, it hurts over sensitive people’s fee-fees and that argument totally doesn’t make me retarded now how dare you say that.” And he ended with making a farting sound. “So you better not talk about people disliking words as your side is the one afraid of words not me.”

 

It seemed to not have helped his cause though because Christopher mocked him further, also what he had just said about double standards, and it made Weißenburg narrow his eyebrows. “You don’t want to try to tell me that the left is not ridiculed with double standards do you?” he shook his head. “And I’m not scared of tits. I just find them extremely ugly, unaesthetic, unappealing, looking like they don’t belong there and I don’t want to see them especially not in a restaurant because that would ruin my appetite. And that’s not only me. Most people don’t want to see breast feeding in the restaurant, most of them straight men, so my mum couldn’t have possible told that I was gay from that standpoint and it’s a normal standpoint to have too.” His voice sounded stubborn. Rolling his blue eyes he threw the other a look when the man talked about wanting to send him pictures of women’s genitalia during the day to spark conspiracy theories about his health if he looked disgusted by the sight. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll never open a text from you again, like ever!!!” the man stated but he couldn’t keep serious so he grinned and chuckled slightly.

 

Joshua wasn’t through with being mocked over this apparently when Chris insisted that not every homosexual man was reacting like this about the female private anatomy. Calling him a special brand that took being gay to extreme heights! “I am a normal man! Ask Nisha! She told my dad I am a normal man!” he insisted because it was the second time that day he was ridiculed for being apparently extremely gay and this time by his boyfriend. “I also convinced everyone of being straight for forty years alright.” He reminded and then added:“I am not the only one either and this is totally normal. I think you are the special brand. Together with Carlton and Jiles and Ilay and Morrisson.” He made a list. Carlton just didn’t seem to care as long as he didn’t have to interact with or be confronted by it in real life, Ilay had had no issue seeing his best friend Melissa’s urgh during a wellness weekend the two had spend together and had even found it interesting to see something like this he had never seen before and Morrison had three kids. “Especially Jiles that perverted libertarian.” Joshua then said. “He can watch through a straight porn movie without discomfort and back then in the Army when he was pent up he got a hard on.” The blond shook his head unbelieving. “He said a hole is a hole and a dick going into a hole is a dick going into a hole and that it’s easy to just think away the bloody chick and replace her with a hot guy on his mind instead while watching this. It’s impossible!” the businessman found. Then he came to a realisation Jiles and Ari, one being a perverted antitheist libertarian without respect for any traditions and the other being another ex of his ex, were his closest friends he had not fucked before. Fucking Tristan JIles was one of his best friends!

 

 

 

As Chris was making progress on the ice rink and Josh telling him how he used to ice skate with his family when he was little and how he had fallen down often the reporter told him that he liked to imagine Weißenburg’s as a kid falling onto his arse on the ice because he found that thought cute. A snorting laugh came from the businessman looking into the green eyes from behind his sunglasses. “I bet you do.” He commented. “I wished I would have fallen on the arse much too but I didn’t have a clue how to fall at all and I usually fell on my knees, arms, elbows, shoulders, chin or face. I stained everything with blood a few times and my mum panicked completely. Believe it or not but there has been a time where she actually worried about my well being and didn’t walk along side people who held signs with ‘Down with Joshua Weißenburg’ or ‘Joshua Weißenburg is a misogynist fascist pig’.” The blond informed the other. The man indeed had been prone to fall badly if he fell down; he had just learned to fall properly in the Army.

 

After the deep and gentle kiss he had given the younger man he was called an arse making Josh raise one eyebrow what wasn’t well to see behind the huge sunglasses. “It’s not wise to bite into the hand that holds you.” He teased him in a jesting manner as he was the one who actually made the other stand safe on the ice. But soon after, Christopher was just staring at his feet figuring out how to skate, the blond was suddenly told that Rosario liked him despite him being an arse and it made his heart pound higher and a wide smile spread over his face as he looked at the man who was clumsily moving forward. The brunette was then suddenly talking about moving in together and how he wore socks around the house and how he fell asleep with his laptop and it made Josh grin at him finding the man way too adorable in that moment. “I like you too, I am growing to like you more and more. Though I have no clue why because you can be such a little shit…. You are a cute little shit though.” the man responded looking how the other was skating alone now, staying nearby though so that he could grab him if he was to stumble. “I wear socks around the house as well, I’m barefoot sometimes too. Well and let’s see how tempting your laptop will be compared to falling asleep entangled with me.” The blond stated. “If we moved in our habits would fuse and create all new weird habits sooner or later anyway, I tell you that.” the blond stated because that had happened when he had moved in with Ilay. “You don’t need an eternity in the bathroom though do you? And you don’t have all kinds of creams and lotions and face masks and hairstuff and all that jazz so that I can’t reach my few things anymore without digging through all of them?” he asked half jokingly half seriously, remembering what a mess the bathroom had been in his old house he had lived in with Ilay.

 

Ilay who looked like a frigging model and was one of the rare cases of people who could get out of bed and be just fucking gorgeous, who actually didn’t need to do anything to look hot, had taken ages in the bathroom and had done a lot of unnecessary and crazy shit with his skin and hair all the time. He had been as bad as Josh’s sister at the very least. He vividly remembered when the other man had returned from a three weeks trip and they had to go to a gala for work, both of them, and Ilay had been half an hour in the bathroom already and Josh had asked him what he was doing and Ilay had answered he had brushed his teeth and was plugging his eyebrows. Plugging his fucking eyebrows even though they had to leave soon and only to inform him that he had to shave off his whole body hair, shower and clean out his arse because he wanted to have sex after the gala and didn’t have time to take care of the hair during his trip. “When did I tell you that you had to do all that stuff?” he had asked the man and Ilay had answered: “But I want to have sex. It’s been three weeks, I’m horny; I thought you’d want me too.” In a pouting kind of voice and the blond had facepalmed lying on the bed in his bloody suit and completely ready to go to the appointment. “Not that. Of course I want to fuck you, you idiot, I’m about to explode anyway. I meant shaving off your body hair.” That had been followed by Ilay going on for five minutes about how he looked way too hairy, that Josh wouldn’t get it up and all that and Josh explaining to him that he was attracted to men and that he actually found a normal amount of body hair manly and attractive and had always found it incredibly weird and a turn off that Ilay shaved his legs and arms, telling him to leave the hair alone and just shower and clean. They had been ten minutes late in the end. Well, Joshua had been ten minutes late Ilay fifteen because the businessman had thought it’d have looked suspicious if they had arrived together and both had been late together. The discussion about the other not shaving had then made it into the bedroom later where Ilay had wanted to run off and shave everything except the legs and arms after all while Josh listened to him over exaggerating the amount of body hair he had to a point where Joshua had been annoyed, imagined a grizzly and lost his patients, had pinned him down on the bed with his red face before he could run off only to find out that Ilay’s body hair naturally grew at all the right places unlike Weißenburg’s who had to trim it not understanding what all the unnecessary fuss had been about.

 

Or that time where he had returned home from work early to find Ilay on the sofa with bloody yoghurt and cucumbers on his face while listening to a musical what had made Joshua bust out into laughter, knowing that the other had apparently done that every other week with Melissa at Melissa’s home. “You must really miss Melissa since she moved. It must be hard to have no one for the girls night´s and to talk about girls issues anymore.” The blond had mocked his boyfriend and Ilay had gotten pissed. “Fuck you Joshua. Don’t call me a chick because I care about my skin and have a female best friend. You should do something for your skin too you know.” He had stood up with the cucumbers on his eyes, made a step forward and had nearly fallen down had Joshua not caught him. The businessman had taken one piece of cucumber after the other from the man’s eyes dipping it into the yoghurt on the other’s face before eating it. “You shouldn’t make too fast movements with cucumbers on your eyes.” He had teased him and Ilay had punched his chest only making the blond laugh more. “Caring about your looks is not a girls thing and musicales aren’t for girls either, you are just being one of those gay guys I totally can’t stand right now.” Ilay had said and Joshua had tried to stop laughing but failed completely. “I just can’t take a man with yoghurt on his face seriously, sorry.” Weißenburg had remarked and then laughed even harder. “Did Ari ever see you like that too? Or did I just get that rare chance because I came home earlier from work? Hold on, put some cucumbers back on your face I have to take a photo.”

 

Living with Ilay had been the only time where he had shared a house with a partner but he had been in the Army for many years and it had made him really uncomplicated and used to a lot less personal space than he had living with a partner and he had been able to deal with pretty much every habit Ilay had rather easily. Though it had been even easier to share only a room with Carlton during their vacations and when they stayed over at each other’s places because the other man had been in the Army too and absolutely low maintenance whereas Ilay had been more complicated in that regards and set in his own ways as he had never had to share a place before he had moved in with Joshua. Christopher as far as Josh knew had not lived with someone else before either or had he? The blond found himself imagining how it’d be like to live with the other man but his mind was focussed on how he’d close the man’s laptop and kiss him and they’d end up fucking with their socks on, how the other would wake him up sucking his cock, how the man would greet him in the kitchen in the morning, Josh would slap his arse and they’d fuck before having breakfast together, basically all the places in the house that they could do it in, the other giving him a massage, laying on the sofa together and all those things that didn’t have much to do with the basics of living together. “Have you lived with someone before? A roommate perhaps?” he then asked curiously slowly skating beside Christopher who was actually skating on his own now without seeming at such a high risk to fall down anymore.

 

It didn’t take too long and they could actually skate decently enough together at a pace that didn’t make snails look insanely fast and Josh took the other man’s hand again, leaving the wall with him, driving more freely and fooling around a little, spinning the other around while always holding him, pulling him close from time to time to kiss his lips and his face barking at a person who made a stupid remark about them and how something like them didn’t belong in public to mind her own business and don’t be a bitch because no one wanted to kiss her ugly face. He liked that the disguise he wore gave him the possibility to take on people like that openly because he certainly wasn’t happy about people pissing on gay guys but he had usually kept his responses low to not out himself and to not make people question that he might be gay himself. There also had been two creepy teenage girls who had taken a photo of them while squealing and they were outright scary. What the hell was wrong with those chicks giggling over their relationship? People were crazy nowadays, he thought and shook his head asking himself whether he should remind them that they shouldn’t take photos of people just like that but what good would it do? They probably posted that photo somewhere already anyway and there was quite obviously something incredibly wrong with them. Why didn’t they look at some of the single guys their age instead of drooling over a gay couple?

 

After skating for another while he decided that they should go and grab a drink in the restaurant that belonged to the ice rink and he walked over there with the ice skates on his feet, holding Chris’s hand as he entered the location and let himself sink on the nearest free table. He ordered both of them a hot chocolate without asking and then grinned at the journalist. “You actually made it and you look cute when you ice skate too.” He said and felt his phone buzzing in his pocket for the thousandth time since they had arrived. He ignored it again but at the next buzz of the phone he took it out because he knew this was his adviser or his assistant or both of them and hence wouldn’t stop. “I’m sorry I have to check that real quick.” He apologised as he usually wasn’t the type to use his phone when with friends much less on a date but this was work and he was campaigning at the moment. There were missed calls and then there were messages now. It concerned the next day. An event in the city. A guy also known as ‘the black Führer’ or ‘black Nazi’ was coming to town for a speech and there were supposed to be riots. His advisers wanted him to be prepared and to talk his statement over with him to have it ready when needed. Josh knew who that guy was, Jiles had roasted him in a really popular video of his. It was some spoiled idiotic racist brat with millionaire parents who had never done anything in his entire life, had had it much more comfortable than most people ever will have, whining about how he was enslaved and oppressed and how he thought white people either needed to die or give him all their money. It had been difficult for Weißenburg to say whether it was a chick or a dude at first but Jiles had assured him it was a dude, a gay dude, who insisted he was not gay but into the same gender what was the definition of gay but he apparently thought that gay meant slave trader, rapists who are attracted to men or something, the dude was just nuts.

 

Sure, he would condemn that idiot but there wasn’t much preparation needed and in the end he didn’t have anything to do with that guy’s speech and the police would deal with any riot he’d incite people to do. “You know that black Nazi guy?” he asked Chris. “He’s speaking in the city tomorrow. I need to check that video my advisers send me real quick.” Josh stated and turned the video on on his phone letting Christopher see it also. It started off with the guy insulting white people as per usual before he went for his subject which apparently was interracial relationships. The guy went on how every white person being with a non-white person was a rapist and a slave owner and how every non-white person being with a white person was dumb, disgusting scum and a race traitor and should be locked away with their spouses because they were toxic as they were in love with their rapists and apologetic about their slave owners. So basically full of lunatic bullshit as this guy always was and Josh couldn’t help but to laugh at the lunacy but he didn’t see why his advisers send him this other than for the man announcing that he’d speak in their city and that they’d riot at the end of the video. The blue eyes of Weißenburg moved to Chris though. “What do you have to say in your defence for being a race traitor Chris? Will you hand yourself over to the police and say that you are a race traitor because you slept with me now?” he joked and then clicked on the second video. “Let’s see what insane stuff he has to say next shall we?” he said while the video was buffering.

 

What he looked into wasn’t the face of the black Nazi guy though but a grown man dressed in his bed sheets. “Well, at least this one is considerate enough to not make us look into his abomination of a face. How thoughtful.” He commented looking at the guy going on a rant about the black Nazi speaking in the city, stating that he was the grant-magician-overlord-white-knight-templar on level 17 from the local CCC group and he’d not tolerate that attack on his race, that he’d fight against this guy no matter what, calling the people to protest against white genocide and that speaker. And after that he finally got why his advisers had send those videos to him because that man was dropping Joshua’s name, exclaiming that everyone who wanted to see the black Nazis and his people gone and wanted a great and white city should vote for him. Before his rant got more general again and he was getting pissed about the same topic black Nazi had gotten pissed about just vice versa and with different terminology except for the race traitor, that word stayed the same. He listed every ethnicity that wasn’t white and then said that if one was white and had a relationship with any of the mentioned other ethnicities one was a race traitor and he hoped that one got aids and died from it. After that he switched his raging angry voice as if he wanted to sell a car now telling the people that they could sign up with his group, pointing at the hotline, then going on to mention that if they didn’t have time to join but wanted to support the CCC’s cause they could subscribe to his channel, give a like and donate via patreon and if they’d donate more than twenty bucks a month they’d get an exclusive key chain with a plush man in his bed sheets holding a torch.

 

“I guess that guy is confused.” Josh said while typing his advisers that they should arrange something with Bernotti because he found that democratic powers should stand together against both sides of the same coin and that he’d think about how to distance himself from the CCC now too. “First he says people should vote for me, don’t ask me why he thinks I’d support his stuff because I don’t, and then he says he wishes for me to get aids and die ….twice….” he tried to make fun about it but he felt the rising fatigue again and let his head sink. “Why they too!? Ryan Stephenson was enough already. Why did they have to support me too? That is even worse publicity!” Weißenburg sighed. “Don’t they do any research? Are they that dumb?” he asked no matter if to Rosario or himself or nobody. And it was true. Joshua’s family who all lived in the same city weren’t exactly what those people wanted for the nation’s future. No one in his family really cared about race and ethnicity at all. His parents were divorced and his father was married to a Thai woman and ran a restaurant in the city with her. While his mother had Harold! No clue what Harold was, Harold was probably everything and nothing but not entirely white. Harold actually had no idea what he was either. When he needed to fill in his ethnicity somewhere he ticked every single box or made a new one, called it ‘Harold’ and ticked that then or he’d get a headache over trying to figure it out. And his sister had three children from three different fathers of three different ethnicities. And Josh, well, Josh had never given it much thought but he had always been with white people in serious relationships somehow before Chris or at least he had considered Ilay white because Ilay had the same skin colour as he had but Ryan Stephenson and the crazy dude in his bed sheets apparently saw this really differently and didn’t consider Ilay white, so counting Chris ,out of three serious relationships they disapproved of two just by the ethnicity factor, the gender factor not even part of the equation yet.

 

There was no reason at all why those people would like him. He had not once talked about race ever only about racist terrorist groups and he had condemned racism against anyone while doing so. Joshua Weißenburg wasn’t a racist, he wasn’t a fascist either, he was just a right winger that was all he was. Maybe it was the leftists accusing him of being a racist and a fascist that made the racists and the neo Nazis believe that he was on their side and brought them to support him or something? What other explanation was there? But while he was dwelling on this not so unimportant political question the waitress appeared with their hot chocolate and Weißenburg looked at her, nodded and thanked her before he shoved Rosario’s over to the other man, letting the fingers of his left hand run over the back of the other man’s hand. “I ordered both with some Rum in it.” He told him. “I love when there is some Rum in it but Jacqueline refuses to make it for me that way, she got really ‘responsible’ about alcohol ever since she became a mother.” The blond stated.

[brinary]

This was going to be a series of arguments, he could tell. Christopher and Joshua were obviously on different sides when it came to a lot of things- politics just so happened to be one of them. The writer could add Joshua Weibenburg himself to the itemized list seeing as how the perceptions were completely different. "Because gagging isn't one step away from throwing up, okay," he mumbled to himself as the other continued his campaign to cleanse his name. At the end of the day it just seemed like minor hyperbole wasn't allowed when it came to the other man or else he'd feel misrepresented or attacked some way. "Why is it always 'you leftists' with you--." It was like the craziest escalation and did Christopher feel offended, no, because why would he, but he felt annoyed that his boyfriend was stooping to schoolyard levels of retaliation. He just went full stop and stared at the other man with the blandest, blankest stare before squinting them into a sharp glare. The sudden silence was his response to the other man's last point, staring at him for what dragged into a minute with obvious annoyance. His boyfriend was a grade school child. "... Keep your hands on the steering wheel or you'll end up crippled and being like that for real when the metal rods from a passing car is suddenly lodged in-between the notches of your spinal column."

 

"Everyone has double standards," Christopher sharply retorted. "It was just a month ago that some conservative group's leader, all pumped with an arsenal of weapons and talking about kicking protestors' asses was sobbing into a camera about how scared he was, and how non-violent he was. And how the second violence from the left comes in any shape or form, the right is willing to call everyone animals incapable of reasoning or logic, but rally their support behind organizations built on the notion of fighting and violence. This isn't a matter of political leanings than it is a product of the human condition, being hypocritical and having double standards." He went so fast when he spoke now, expression screwing further at the breast thing. There was an argument bubbling in his soul. But he put a clamp on it and compose himself, instead just making a snarky comment about sending Joshua pictures of precious mammaries. At least it elicited a slight break in the madness.

 

The defenses came back and Christopher closed his eyes instead of rolling them. It was a moment of self-restraint, which he was thankful for, because listening to Joshua explode and insist made him WANT to laugh. But he thought it’d be rude in this particular case. “Nisha considers raccoons climbing all over her to be very fun. So I don’t know if you want to fully trust her judgement in what constitutes normalcy,” he finally said smoothly, smile restrained for something mature and leveled. Gaze returning to watching the landscape go by, he snorted at the story and tried to disguise it as clearing his throat instead. But it was just too funny. He couldn’t help but giggle some. “You’re so weird.” Shaking his head, he looked back at the blonde and shrugged. “Maybe you’re just not imaginative enough,” he settled with, glad that the car ride had settled on this mostly humorous, light moment. It was a sharp contrast to the fear and anxiety that had blanketed most of his mind and senses when they’d tackled the ice rink.

 

At least he was feeling okay enough to speak now. Christopher hummed quietly to himself. "My Mom had to teach me to duck and fall," he recounted with his slow progress. "Sometimes she'd yell 'down' in the middle of me doing chores or something after years of constantly trying to teach me to duck, and I'd fall instantly. Usually she'd throw bags of rice or baskets with fruits to test me." Smiling faintly at the memories, he continued. "I obviously learned fast. Getting hit with cornmeal and rice and everything isn't all that fun. It's sad though, what's happened... Not your Mom making signs against you and everything but more that you were actually born with such a flat ass and didn't accidentally flatten it out from falling so often." Still too nervous to aim a perfectly wry smirk up at the other, Kris settled for a flash of a smile before quickly training his eyes back on the current life-or-death situation: his skates. "I'm going to assume you know how to fall a lot better now, at least."

 

With a derisive huff, Christopher continued his actions, ignoring the gentle tease all together. At least his life or death stakes had brought them a little closer together; hearing Joshua reciprocate the affection was good. It shouldn't feel so good but he liked knowledge- had always liked knowledge- and sometimes his own opinions of situations could cloud facts. If Kris was ever led to believe that he was the only one with a lot of affection, well. He was obviously wrong. As he skated, Kris listened to Joshua go over his own household habits. Talking about this was thrilling alone, co-habitating, living in a sweet domestic bliss as they navigated around each other and found new ways to interact. He practically felt like leasing his apartment and telling the other man to make room in the bed for him. But it was never good to rush. They were still dating. They'd just started. No need to rush. Even if he really, really wanted to. At the half-jokey question, Kris snorted and chanced a disbelieving glance up at the older man before looking back down. "Out of the times you've seen me when I wasn't dressed up to go out with you, or go out somewhere, I look like shit, Joshua," he answered. "I use face wash, sometimes I'll wear a face mask if I'm bored and using my computer, and I use promenade when I feel like trying to fight my hair." 'Which obviously doesn't help' he added mentally. "Maybe one day I'll actually try to look more decent, get rid of acne scars or make my freckles less... burn-mark looking. I look like a gorgon when I wake up." He grinned somewhat bitterly.

 

Christopher always tried to make his mornings good beginnings. He needed time in the morning to handle the mess he became in the evening. Tangled curls, fuzzed out to obscure his vision, sticking up in haphazard struggling groups. Crusty eyes, a gruff voice, a nest all balanced on a fumbling, off-balanced body. The bathroom never took long for him. Kris had learned to cut down time on his appearance, not only growing up with two older sisters, but always being so busy- particularly in high school. Brushing his teeth was a furious task that left him spitting up blood from bleeding jaws, face washed roughly with the hottest water and the toughest exfoliant. He yanked a brush through his hair and went on his way. Trying to take care of himself had been a pretty recent development, one still devoted to special moments and times. Everyone Joshua seemed to be friends was handsome or pretty. Ilay himself was still gorgeous, fresh-faced, and magnetic. And his mom had always taught him to compare himself up, but living up to such an image seemed pretty hard. Striving for academic greatness was easy; being as attractive and charming as someone's former lover was a harder task. It came easier, the whole skating thing, when he focused on other problems that ignited other stresses. Filled with self-doubt and a sudden tightness in his chest, Christopher slipped easily into skating, watching the ice go by as his mind wandered. He was okay looking. Maybe not an Ilay, but okay in his own way.

 

People always liked his eyes. His smile was nice. His hair looked pleasing. He had a good stature. His freckles were overwhelming but some people were okay with that. His acne scars sometimes looked like freckles even. Joshua was the person who had an otherworldly beauty- the Ice King handsomeness. And yeah, Ilay looked like he could turn a few magazine covers and centerfolds. But that didn't mean Christopher couldn't. He could imagine starring in an ad. Maybe selling pretzels.

 

God. He was nothing compared.

 

"Mm?" His hum was delayed, broken from his chain of thoughts by the blonde. "Oh, uh, yeah. In college. I lived with my friend, Haye-- you might know him, runs a company or two, lost a bet and had to dye his hair red. He goes to your parties and everything. But yeah, we lived together for... I think two or three years in college? First in the dorms then in an apartment. He moved out to do an internship in Norway, though, and then I've been on my own since," Christopher explained. "I mean of course I lived with my family but if we're not counting that, just the few years with Haye... I was always on the debate circuit, but that was mostly days or a week spent in loaned dormitories or on buses or in small hotels." Now feeling a little more assured in what he was doing, the man finally looked elsewhere from the expanse of ice and its criss-crossed lines. Skating idly was fun now that he wasn't totally scared of death. Of course Joshua tested that unspoken statement with a bunch of idiocracy, spinning and kissing him even when Kris objected with obvious gusto. After so many close encounters, he didn't let go of Joshua's hand for the rest of the time, on guard for sudden spins or gropes that had left him dizzy, red, and nervous all over again. He would begrudgingly admit that his anger got squashed easily by seeing how happy his boyfriend was. The stupid smile on the man's face was worth it.

 

The next challenge was hobbling alongside the blonde in ice skates. Walking in ice skates was stupid and Kris hated it. He was good at sitting, and even better at eating and drinking, so the restaurant was a gratifying safe haven. He sank down next to Joshua with as much dignity as someone could muster when they were half-falling in ice skates. He couldn't even muster a quip about the businessman ordering the drinks, opting to take off his hat and run his fingers through his stupid hair. The sweat combined with the chill and pressure from the hat made the curls look molded for a moment or two before they began to rise from their former compressed state. Christopher ran his fingers through them roughly, shaking them loose. "I'm glad 'baby deer just learning to walk, while trying not to yell' is defined as "cute" to you," he stated with an elbow to Joshua's side. When the other's cellphone kept going off, he waved the apology away and turned his attention to looking around at the restaurant. He was too technology-smitten to get mad at people for checking their phones during an outing. After all, his primary source of income was defined by him having access to a phone and typing on it.

 

Joshua's silence was soon broken and the writer looked back at him when the question came up. "Oh. Yeah. Why?" The answer was-- "Ugh, really?" Christopher ran another hand through his hair and closed his eyes, groaning. "I hope no one e-mails me to report on it. I'm not going," he frowned. His inbox was probably already flooded. God dammit. Then of course he was made to watch it because this was what dates were, right? You just showed each other dumb videos and laughed at them. Christopher wished he could say the rhetoric and narrative was new to him but he'd heard it before. Even read books and articles about it. It, of course, made him cringe. As the video began to end, he only responded blandly to the other man's teasing. "Well, I guess I am the White Man's Whore. Colonialism continues to wreck havoc after you spread your European Sensibilities into my Pure and Untouched Native Land. This is, by the way, a huge metaphor for you nutting in my ass." They went on to watch another video, which wasn't as funny as the first, mostly because it was generally repugnant without a lot to actually make fun of. If there was one thing about the infamous 'Black Hitler' it was his energy and phraseature. The facial expressions and hand movements also added to the experience. Here it was just watching someone be boringly, horribly, annoyingly racist without anything to really poke fun about. It felt like doing another bout of research, just watching an angry man be angry and spout ignorance.

 

What he knew Joshua was going to dwell on most of all was the support he received. It had become a running theme for the man to be thrown off by the blatant respect and admiration he received from hard extremist groups. This situation ended no differently. All Christopher could really do was watch as Joshua crumple after trying to joke about the video and about what was said but the damage was obviously done. Joshua Weibenburg looked exhausted. Wrapping an arm around the tired mayoral candidate, he gently rubbed a soothing pattern into the other's waist and let the other vent. How someone could dive so willingly into the political realm and yet somehow remain so blissfully naive was pretty wonderous to the male, but he didn’t dwell on it too much. It wasn’t Joshua’s fault that he attracted the groups he did. It was, but it wasn’t. Christopher couldn’t hold the man to the flames.

 

Their hot chocolate finally came and he said a quiet ‘thank you’ to the waitress. As she left, Christopher watched her with a frown, listening to the other man before his eyes slowly returned to the put-down expression on Joshua’s face. “I think some alcohol is suitably needed,” he said after a while and nuzzled up to the blonde close, kissing his shoulder gently before taking a drink from his cup. Very hot, but also very good. “I obviously have my own opinions and thoughts, but right now my main concern is your, y’know. General safety. Are you sure you should… well, even really respond? It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t, but I feel like there’s a little less danger and damnation in being careful about this situation.” He hated having to express his worry so much but it bugged him; he didn’t want to see Joshua hurt.

[-Hideki-]

The annoyed glare that he received didn’t bother him much and to the question as to why it was always ‘You leftists’ with him he only said:” Because you are one.” And nothing more! Although that was something that Joshua said since he had started campaigning because the ones who were constantly nagging about him and overreacting to him were always from the left. So it had become like a routine for him to say such phrases which were relatable to and popular with his voters and an expression of how divided into different sides society was at this point. Had he looked completely unimpressed with the sharp, annoyed stares that his boyfriend was throwing at him from the passenger seat his mouth curled up in a pleased, wide smile and his eyebrows raised when he heard the journalist scold him after he had totally accurately imitated his colleagues right there and had let the steering wheel go in favour of making some really interesting arm movements. The blond male placed his hands back onto the steering wheel and he gave him an amused and pretty satisfied gaze after Chris had ended telling him that he might end up like that for real if he didn’t keep his hands on the steering wheel and didn’t pay attention to traffic. “You’re totally worried about me!” Josh stated and the smile only grew. “Because you like me.” He added. “So cute.” He teased.

 

“Great that you finally admit that the left is ridiculed with double standards!” Joshua stated when the other was going on about how everyone held double standards. Pointing out what he believed were conservative double standards while Weißenburg mainly saw that he had agreed that the left had double standards and therefore had not been able to defeat his argument and hence he had absolutely won this. The businessman narrowed his eyebrows as he was thinking though. “What has owning weapons to do with violence?” he asked. “I own weapons too. Because I have the right to defend myself against violent and criminal elements as a decent citizen! That is an important right and doesn’t mean I’m violent.” He didn’t see a double standard in that at all.

 

“Yes, I definitely trust Nisha’s judgement on there being absolutely nothing wrong with me and being a normal man.” Joshua said. “Although the raccoon thing is pretty crazy. But that’s a different subject.” The man admitted as most people were trying to get rid of the raccoons if they had them on their property whereas Nisha wanted them to stay there and let them built a family and was totally happy and at ease with that.

Joshua’s anecdote about Tristan Jiles ended with the blond male being called weird by the other again although it was clearly Jiles who was the weird one and the accusation that he was not imaginative enough. “I’m sorry that being confronted with something as repulsive and gross kills my imagination.” He said sarcastically as they drove onto the parking space arriving at the destination.

 

 

Watching the other man making his progress in learning to ice skate whilst slowly skating by his side without thinking about it, just like normal walking, he listened when he was told that the other man’s mother would train him to duck and fall onto the ground. Josh had learned that too although his instructors had not thrown fruits and corn bags at them. It was entirely different though and he couldn’t really imagine being a child in an environment where they had to learn this. Sure, Josh had grown up in a fucking shithole, the worst district the city had to offer but although he had to be cautious and had been taught caution and knowledge for survival and to defend himself and to avoid criminals and how to behave confronted with criminals there was still a huge difference between their experiences. When Christopher then poked fun of his flat arse he grinned and rolled his eyes at the same time. “Pfft, if Nisha’s theory is right you’ll definitely be reborn as a dung beetle too because you’re a jerk.” He commented. “And you’re probably just saying all that stuff to distract from how much you adore my flat arse and my hands.” Weißenburg responded jokingly sticking his tongue out to the other. While he really didn’t like being told that his palms were small and that his hands looked like those of a raccoon, because that was totally not true alright, he really didn’t care about his arse being flat. It had never remotely bothered him and he had not given it two thoughts ever. Sure he didn’t find a flat arse to be erotic or something that particularly attracted him on other men but he didn’t care about having a flat arse himself. Although he definitely was into arses and checked other guy’s butts out a lot. Josh’s exes and the men he had slept with before also hadn’t really cared about his flat arse. They didn’t even pay his arse much attention if any at all. So he was cool with it. The only thing that would have bothered him would have been if he had had some bubble butt, he’d totally have hated that. Probably because he found those outright unattractive and unmanly! Way too feminine and didn’t get the hype. Another thing he disagreed with Jiles on, or would have disagreed with Jiles on weren’t he closeted. Sure Joshua had the suspicion that Jiles knew he was gay but he had never told him either so commenting on it would have been weird he had thought and had fought for keeping silent and resist disagreeing the whole time while listening to a conversation between Tristan and Carlton and if there was something that he found difficult it was saying nothing when he had opinions and found what someone else said to be bullshit. That particular conversation had ended with Carlton looking into Jiles’s eyes in all seriousness and telling him:”Tristan, I really don’t care about arses.” And Jiles joking that this was his definition of blasphemy.

 

After Joshua had tried to make sure if they needed strictly separated bathrooms because otherwise his would turn into a battlefield he’d have to fight himself through to get to his stuff and be ready in the morning again he looked questioningly at the other man when he started to talk but the raised eyebrows narrowed soon and he even looked a little displeased when the other man stated that when he wasn’t going out or on a date that he looked like shit. “Idiot!” he said. “Do you want to question my excellent taste in men?” Weißenburg asked half playful half serious. “I told you I found you hot didn’t I. And I certainly don’t find guys hot who look like shit, got it.” Josh stated clearly. “I also have seen you waking up too.” He reminded him and Joshua had not remotely thought anything in this direction when he had looked at the other, finding it rather charming and likeable how the other had looked just a little messed up like himself when waking up. He’d totally never admit it but he would have liked to snuggle up to him, wake up together and then get even messier before they got ready to go. At the point the other mentioned doing something ‘against’ his freckles and make them less prominent it was like a little sting into his heart. “NO!” he objected rather vigorously, too vigorously he realised after. “Leave those freckles alone.” Joshua demanded and turned his face a little to the side because he felt how his cheeks were heating up somewhat. Christopher’s freckles were a huge turn on to him. He was attracted to men with freckles and had a preference for freckles. It wasn’t like a must but it was definitely something he appreciated. It was somewhat embarrassing. But then again didn’t everyone have some preferences or even types? He knew that Carlton had a type as all of his boyfriends had always been tall and light. He then decided to focus on another aspect and an amused grin was forming on his face. “I hope that those face masks involve yoghurt and cucumbers or something just as ridiculous and that you do something like listening to musicals while you’re doing that too because then I’ll have something to make fun about and I’d totally take photos too and make them my background picture.” The blond teased. “I don’t think that you need to fight your hair though.” the man found as he definitely liked the other man’s hair. “And your hair definitely doesn’t need cheap blond dye.” He added. “But if you want you can talk to my sister for hair advice, she’s a professional hair dresser. I’m just a businessman who likes your natural hair.” Weißenburg offered.

 

When he was told that Chris had lived with his friend in college and the name Haye was mentioned Weißenburg knew he had heard that name somewhere before and was thinking to find the right face to connect with the name until the other gave him some additional information and he knew who the man was talking about. “Yeah, I know him. He knows Kelsey, one of my secretaries, the one who had a crush on me and everyone thought we had an affair going on.” Josh stated. “The guy is quite successful.” Josh acknowledged. “It’s surprising that you know him and are friends with him though.” he found as it was maybe not as odd as them being a couple but still odd in a way as it seemed unfitting. “It’s interesting.” he found and he was thinking about it more. As far as he knew the guy was at least economically right and not a left winger and he was a businessman too, totally different than Christopher, they had about nothing in common while although they were definitely different there were undeniable parallels between Josh and that man. “Have you ever felt more than friendship for him? Had a crush on him maybe?” he asked letting it sound casual but it really wasn’t that casual, he wanted to be clear what kind of relationship he had to this man for sure. Wanted to know if there had ever been more feelings than friendship between them!

 

As they sat in the warm restaurant Josh’s blue eyes were taking the other in as he was taking off the baseball cap and his hair was taking back its freedom what made the blond chuckle looking at Chris and how he ruffled up his hair realising once more that he was awfully attracted to that bloody journalist laughing at the ‘thrill’ of the other about the black Nazi speaking in their city expressing how he hoped no one wanted him to report on it stating that he wouldn’t be going. “What? You don’t want to witness this legendary moment?” he jested and then got more serious. “I’d rather you won’t go anyway. It’s not going to be peaceful.” he said. ‘I’d worry about you’ he thought.

 

What the other answered to his teasing after they had watched the first video made Joshua laugh rather loudly though, loud enough that some people looked at him questioningly and he tried to tame it down but he couldn’t really and started to laugh again before he got a grip on himself and smirked at the other. “I have to admit I enjoyed spreading my European sensibilities into your pure untouched native land quite a lot and I want to repeat it.” The man let the other know jestingly wiggling his eyebrows. Even though he really tried he couldn’t keep up the playfulness and light heartedness after video number two. Not because of the rubbish said in it because it was basically the same content but because that overlord-grand magician-knight-templar-dragon slayer-on level whatever of the CCC fucking supported him and he didn’t want the CCC to support him, it made him cringe that they supported him. And this wasn’t even a Ryan Stephenson anymore, this was the motherfucking CCC.

 

He sighed deeply after venting and he was really not looking forward to have to deal with this and hoping that the video by this crazy person would be overlooked would have been naïve to say the least. It would not be overlooked. People were probably already throwing themselves onto it like hungry vultures. When he had first thrown his name into the ring to candidate for mayor his mother had vigorously opposed him, had called him unfit for any political office, that he had no clue about how politics actually worked, was no politician, that if he climbed up the political ladder that he’d cause damage and that had only motivated him more but his grandfather had sat there, staring at the screen in the restaurant watching a football match before he had joined the conversation. “Let him. He’ll see for himself sooner than later. He has no idea what it is to be a public figure neither a politician and what that means and comes with. If he gets elected I give him a month and he’ll start complaining and wanting the freedoms he had to give up for it back.” Weißenburg had called that bollocks but even though he’d never admit it he already missed his privacy now. Missed the freedom he had to say and do what he wanted without everyone watching and analysing everything he said and did. Without having nutcases aligning themselves with him apparently too stupid to do a check-up on how he really looked onto the matters that concerned those groups. Maybe his grandpa had been right back then when he had claimed that Joshua had had no idea what he had been getting into. The businessman was not a politician. He also had never been one to analyse politics, he had never been required to in his career and he too had no personal interest in political science. What he always had had been his own political standpoints and opinions. He also knew how lobbying worked because he had lobbyists working for his interest. So what he knew was how to be a businessman and influence politics and politicians from an interest group to the own advantage but that had been about it. He planned on running the city as he was running his business and bring the city to the top like that too. Joshua had also always declined any public appearances in TV shows and such stuff as well. It was crazy what offers one got as a billionaire in a world full of stupid reality TV. But he had not wanted to partake in that either. So he also didn’t have experiences with that since the only interviews he had ever had to give had had to do with economics and his business for economic journals that wanted to write about his business and his success. They also had not been exactly critical about him either but had praised him more than anything because he had been born into a poor family and was rich now, which was basically the American dream come true.

 

So it would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel exhausted at times, that he had no moments where he was asking himself if this had all been worth it. Especially with the backlash he constantly got. There had been moments when he had been incredibly stressed where he had wished that the world went silent at least for a bloody minute. And he had not beaten himself up about it because he was a real living person with all the stuff that people had going on such as thoughts and feelings and a private life.

Feeling the arm of Chris wrapping around him and rubbing his waist like that helped to relax him a bit though and he leaned in closer to the other putting his head onto the shoulder, closing his eyes for a moment after the hot chocolate had been placed in front of them and after the other had given his shoulder a kiss and had said that alcohol was suitable for that moment. He was glad that he was there with the other and was touched that soothingly and it made him feel better and eased him up more than when he had been dealing with this by himself with no one to sooth him and touch him and just be around in that manner. It was entirely different than letting out frustration and aggression hooking up and he had missed that, apparently more so than he had thought.

 

“And what are your own opinions?” he asked when the other stated that he obviously had his own opinions and thoughts on the matter then continuing that his main concern was his general safety, asking him whether he thought it was a good idea to even respond with anything. Josh took in a deep breath, his chest rising against the other man. “I don’t know!” he admitted. “My advisers want me to.” Josh stated. “I was thinking about condemning both sides together with Bernotti whilst distancing myself from the CCC without saying much else than that I disagree with and condemn their worldview and that my ideas are fundamentally different from theirs.” He shared that thought. “About my safety I don’t think that whatever I do will make me more or less safe. The AntiNa groups have already marked me fair game and if I don’t say anything it will give people the opportunity to put me into the corner with the CCC claiming I wouldn’t even distance myself and some fucked up nutjobs will even claim that I am a CCC member or work with them or something and I don’t think that being labelled a secret CCC member will exactly keep people from resorting to violence against me, especially considering that they already escalated and attacked my business over a speech I gave.” He told him and scratched his chin. “I don’t think I’m exactly ‘safe’ anymore anyway.” He admitted and his expression was strained, allowing the younger man to see this more personal response to all this. “My mother used to go to that bar where mostly feminist women from twenty-one up to sixty spend their weekends and write and read poetry and all that jazz. She doesn’t anymore. My radical feminist, left wing mother left there furiously saying they were too radical and sick in the head after a young woman went on stage and advocated for killing me and other Republicans and that she’d call the person who killed me and those others a hero, getting a round of applause for it, going against my mother when she called them out on the bullshit and asked them if they even knew what they were saying there.” He let the other know. “That I and all those people have families, partners and parents who love us too just like them.”

[brinary]

He wanted to argue, desperately, but kept his mouth shut. It was too early in their relationship to leverage sex against his partner just for the sheer fact that he was annoyed. Even if it’d been enough time, Kris didn’t know if he’d risk something like that. But the temptation was certainly there. Joshua someone worked in simple terms but the leaps in his logic confounded the man. Staring at him with befuddlement, the journalist slowly shook his head and continued his icy, poison stare.

 

It obviously didn’t work.

 

Christopher rolled his eyes as far as they could go into the back of his skull, the blackness and noise distortion that came with it only minor escapes from the shit-fest coming out of his boyfriend’s mouth. It was almost laughable-- he did start laughing, but it quickly turned into a frustrated yell. “Oh my god! Whatever coding software that your brain was built out of that makes everything I say into anything you want to hear has been designed by a fucking genius because it’s totally crazy how you do it! Jesus Christ, haha, Jesus Christ!” He was helplessly tickled by the absurdity he found himself engaging in. It was almost sitcom-esque how deftly the mere words Kris said were pigeon-picked by Joshua for a response.

 

He kind of hated it. Not to mention that there was this cat-like satisfaction that made the older man look a little irresistible. Something Christopher could imagine seeing mid-blowjob. He’d like to wipe the smirk off the other’s face with a surprise attack, but couldn’t bring himself up to the task. Like their arguments, it seemed that Joshua would turn things around and get a victory some way or another.

 

Joshua even saying that Nisha’s judgement was fine even though he acknowledged her obvious eccentricities led back to the absurdity. Kris just rolled his eyes again and looked back out of the window with a snort, the crazy drive finally ending once they got into the parking lot.

 

Still salty from the car ride craziness, shaken from learning how to ice skate, and stirred up, a natural effect from being around the businessman in general, Christopher couldn’t help his sharp tongue. “Dung beetles are cool. Strong and solitary. Your skin’s gonna start runnin’ from your face to avoid your bad attitude, Mr. Smartmouth,” he countered near immediately before smiling a pointy teeth expression at Joshua. “Don’t worry. I’ll still kiss your crypt-keeper cheeks.” The change in his gaze made him wobble and he flailed before he found his center again. It was getting easier each time he fucked up. That outburst had been much unexpected. It even made Kris jump a little, wobbling to stay steady again (recovering faster, again) as he looked over at Joshua with surprised eyes. Sweet as it was that the blonde was so clearly of another mindset, Christopher mostly blushed and shrugged off the compliments. Boyfriends seemed to have an obligation to be nice. His surprise was tripled at the outright yell that Joshua let out at him even mentioning trying to diminish a few of his freckles. He looked over again, now obviously completely baffled, and was met with the sight of an obviously blushing Joshua’s cheek and jawline, the rest of his face turned away. With a tiny snort, he returned to regaining his concentration with skating, noticing he’d started gliding from the shock of everything. “Okay, okay… The freckles will be left alone, sir. Jeez,” he half laughed. Joshua was such a weirdo. It was kind of cute. And apparently that weirdo had a minor fixation on what he considered to be an explosion of dots on his face, like a broken ink pen had just combusted. They were cute to some. For Christopher, it felt a little childlike-- and people already loved to tease him or assign him in their mental records as more adolescent than man. As things calmed down, he made a rude noise at the hypothesized scenario and gave Joshua a swat. “Nothing’s wrong with listening to a musical or two when you’re relaxing! I don’t even do that all the time; I usually just do more work on my computer, or watch like, a cooking show or something. No paparazzi allowed-- if I see my spa-time face on your phone screen, I’m elbowdropping it,” he threatened but there was no real malice behind his words and his biting tone was undercut but the look of adoration he was giving Joshua before glancing away. Their time on the skate rink petered out- thankfully- and moving the conversation to a warmer zone was much appreciated.

 

Once Joshua made the connection, Christopher nodded in agreement and smiled. “Yeah, he’s really great. But we’re even more different than just our general jobs and stances. I think it might be a yin and yang thing, even though that idea is built on an ancient and pretty odd ideology like of all the things to adopt from a culture, the world decided to go with normalizing the yin-yang thing.” Caught in writing a mental dissertation, he was only snapped back by the question that seemed really out of the blue. It immediately made him blush and laugh. “Yeah, I had a crush on him years ago,” he finally answered after his chuckles died down. “We were volatile in the beginning as roommates, but once we finally cleared the air, we got really close. He used to be one of the biggest guys I knew. Thick, you know? I digged it,” he answered honestly. “And he was one of my only friends, nicest person I knew, still one of the all time most caring and sentimental loser I have in my life. But we grew up and it fizzled out. I was too happy to see him dating people he really liked than be sad about a crush I wouldn’t have acted upon.” Thinking about his friend obviously had an instant effect on Kris, tone wistful and obviously fond. “He made me realize I liked people that are bigger than me, and better than me to some extent, who get handsy.” Winking, Kris nudged his partner. “Anyways, he’s cool. Big loser. What a nerd.”

 

Again, Kris scrunched his nose to make a face at Joshua speak about the ‘legendary moment.’ Legendarily caustic is what it’d be. He’d rather have no part in it but he could feel it in his bones, all the reporters running into his inbox. People liked putting him in the shitty situations. It was one half bullying and the other half respect-- Christopher could more than hold his own when it came to a physical altercation and though the waves of people fighting did scare him, he had obviously faced worse. “Of course it won’t be peaceful. It’s why I’m probably getting e-mails up to my cranium right now,” he replied with a sigh before shrugging dramatically. “Part of the job. I’ll see if I’m in the mood to actually deal with the shit.”

 

As the other man laughed uproariously, Kris watched with a rather tame expression, eyebrow quirked and grin showing his teeth as he watched Joshua try again and again to regain control before promptly losing it again. It almost made him blush-- he didn’t even think it was that funny but it definitely tickled his boyfriend. Once the businessman finally calmed down, the brunette lifted his eyebrows and nodded slowly with the sardonic expression still on his face. “Uh-huh. It’s not so much pure and untouched now, big boy.” The funny times didn’t last very long, unfortunately. He wished they could’ve made more jokes about sex and their relationship but again the world was pitted against their overall happiness. As they watched the video, and afterward, while the other man vented, Christopher could see the thoughts practically whirling around Weibenburg’s head. The doubts and the stress. Tiredness, anger, exasperation and confusion. Maybe even some really hard rethinking.

 

It was this vulnerability that Christopher knew people would have exploited if they were shitty enough. Men shouldn’t be dictated by a different emotional standard than their counterparts, but Joshua definitely fell into the camp of people who were a little more guarded with expressing emotions like embarrassment or sadness or tiredness. Feeling the man relax against him- practically sag- and ease into his touch was sad and sweet, but also an important testament to Christopher’s observations. This wasn’t normal fatigue. This was a suppressed exhaustion. He delivered a gentle, light petting to the other man’s hair as he leaned against him and frowned to himself at his boyfriend’s obvious state. It was easy to run yourself ragged when you were young, had few responsibilities. He’d done it for years. But Joshua was supposed to be a man that was settled down comfortably with his business and his money and his family. People with his money retired. People with his money ran their businesses from home, wearing lounge pants and growing comfortably soft in their middle, bathing in the exquisites of life.

 

It officially hurt Christopher to be privy to how torn up Joshua was. He wanted to bundle him in a blanket and kiss him, and cook for him, and take care of him, sucking and nuzzling-- whatever was needed to try and help diminish the stress this campaign must have put on him.

 

Escapism was once believed to be a ‘sissy move’- at least to the writer. He escaped a lot but always faced his realities. Now, he could really really see the appeal.

 

At Joshua’s question, he shook his head. “My opinions don’t matter right now,” he countered. “It’s about you and the fact that this is happening.” It wouldn’t be anything good to add extra stress by breaking down political machinations, sub-groups, ideology fodder, and other political science terms to a man that was probably too exhausted to absorb the names of the philosophers who’d conjured up the theories. Instead he re-routed the conversation by asking after Joshua’s plans-- which led to more of a headache (and slight heartache.) The idea was an alright one; Christopher considered it with that same small frown and furrowed brows. Yes, condemnation would be good. But it was too far gone. He wondered if Joshua knew that-- that this tide he was just beginning to see slam and smash itself against the fortress he’d built for himself, it was already a tsunami. Did Joshua knew that? He couldn’t tell. But he kept his mouth shut, hand resting on Joshua’s leg to rub it gently as the man spoke. Antina and CCC, extreme viewpoints and a host of characters-- why did he have to trigger so many people’s emotions and thoughts? Joshua incited so much emotion it was ridiculous.

 

Taking a sip of his hot chocolate as Joshua began to unwind his mind, obviously bothered by this, Christopher set down his cup. “Joshua,” he sighed. “I know that you’ve already normalized your status as a target, but I don’t think martyrdom fits you at all.” He looked at the man seriously and took his chin in his hand, tilting the other’s head down so they could lock eyes. “No one is born with their wings indestructible, alright? You’re flying close. And I know that we joke about our differences here and there, but we listen to each other, and I really want you to listen to me when I say to think this one through and not jeopardize yourself. Okay?” Smoothing a hand over Joshua’s cheek, he leaned in and gently kissed the man with a knitted brow. “It’d be a lot easier to say that people pussy out and don’t make good on their threats. And nine times out of ten, I’m always right. But I leave room for chance now-- especially in this climate.” Taking a moment, Kris licked his lips, heart hammering in his ears a little at the fear that was beginning to nag at him-- that familiar fear, the worry. It strained his voice as he said, “So, be careful, please.” A little heavy of a moment to be having in an ice rink’s restaurant area but some venues were perfect for the people handling a verifiably shitty situation.

 

He lifted Joshua’s hand to his lips and brushed them in a gentle kiss, rubbing the knuckles with the pad of his thumb. “I can’t convince you of anything, I know that, but I still want to try, at the very least.”

[-Hideki-]

With a raised eyebrow he looked at the journalist as if the man was completely peculiar. It wasn’t even due to the weird remark about kissing his arse cheeks what Josh couldn’t care any less about as long as he sucked his cock and he got to fuck the other’s arse he could ignore his own arse all he wanted but the fact that it was unnecessary sharp and serious and had lost its playfulness altogether. It was the attitude, not what was said. Even the grin that was flung into his direction was waspish too and although Joshua wasn’t exactly sensitive or tactful it didn’t escape him anymore that the other was irritated. The blond man let go of Chris’s hand and crossed his arms in front of his chest, raising his head high, his blue eyes that had lost their humorous shimmer as well now rather hard and unyielding. “If you’re mad and something pisses you off just say what it is that bugs you instead of starting to get all bitchy and weird in an unpleasant way to ‘show me’ or whatever and drag this around. Bitchiness is not cute, I don’t like it.” He shot back shaking his head asking himself how something he had deemed good fun could become invidious that quickly.

 

Apparently the other still didn’t like his complements or at least found them uncomfortable because he blushed and shrugged them off and overall didn’t seem to take him seriously. To a narcissist like Josh it was difficult to understand that the man didn’t like to be complimented and didn’t seem to believe the complements. If someone said to Weißenburg that he was great and looked hot liked that, it sparked a boost of his ego and he agreed with them and he didn’t doubt that they meant it for a second because it matched up how he himself saw himself but it seemed that it was the opposite for Christopher what was rather unfortunate because Joshua really found him attractive. The guy needed more confidence, he found. In regards to the vigorous objections about the other doing anything to make his freckles less apparent Rosario responded then though, telling him he’d leave the freckles alone laughing about Weißenburg again but although it made him grumble a little and bit his bottom lip because the man laughed about him finding freckles incredibly attractive the outcome was what he wanted anyway as the other would leave them alone. “Good!” he stated clearly his blue eyes wandering back to the man’s handsome freckled face a smile playing around his lips. He had always liked the way freckles looked on other guys. The unique seemingly random patterns they created on the skin, the contrast of their colour as if a neatly painted wall was wildly sprinkled with a completely different colour creating a lively picture that didn’t care if it got out of line. He loved that! Was drawn to it! He liked looking at freckled faces and bodies, liked letting his finger circle over it. And when he was thinking about what he was thinking he thought that this all sounded as if he was a fucking hipster liberal arts college student and he decided to rather not say that out loud anytime soon.

 

The blond busted out into laughter at the other’s reaction to his teasing about yoghurt face masks and musicals when the man told him that there was nothing wrong with musicals and that he didn’t even always do it. Josh couldn’t hold onto himself. So he really was doing that! He had not even thought that the man was legit doing this! But he apparently was. “That’s too great! You’re killing me!” he stated amused when the other continued to say that no paparazzi were allowed and if he saw a photo of his spa-time on Weißenburg’s phone he’d drop it what only made him laugh even more. “Says the man who illegally recorded a sex tape of me and got a boner doing so!” He remarked still grinning.

 

He listened intently when the other described the relationship he and his friend had by using the analogy of Yin-Yang but when the brunette flushed red and laughed immediately after Joshua had asked him if he had had a crush on that man that reaction created an unpleasant sting within the blond and because that alone was rather telling. Hence it wasn’t a surprise at all when the other said that he indeed had had a crush on the other years ago and went on to tell him a little about it. How they hadn’t gotten that well along at first but had fought it out and got really close. Then telling him that the other had been one of the biggest guys he knew and he had digged how thick he had been and Joshua was immediately thinking about cocks imagining some massive, giant cock, then he asked himself if the other was really talking about the guy’s dick or just the built of his body. Listening further he learned that Rosario found the man to be one of the nicest, most caring and sentimental people he knew, that the crush had fizzled out and that the journalist had been too happy about seeing the man dating people he really liked more so than he was sad about giving up a crush he wouldn’t have acted upon. It made Weißenburg think that the younger man must have really loved the guy and that this was quite a sad thing to say. Chris then nudged him after he had expressed how this man had made him realise he liked bigger people who got handsy making Joshua let out a laugh. “Good for me I suppose.” He commented jestingly because thinking back the first thing he had done on their first date had literally been grabbing Rosario by his arse! But although he was making that joking remark what he was actually thinking about was completely different. And he couldn’t help but feel competitive and even a little jealous after hearing that. After hearing what he had said and how fond and endearing his voice had sounded when he had spoken about that man. Would his voice ever sound like that when he spoke about him? Would he speak that positively about him at all? Would he even grant him the Yin-Yang analogy? Or would he just roll his eyes and laugh when asked about him describing him as a dumb conservative with a weird way to think who was stupid but nice to look at and that he couldn’t help it because for whatever reason he had chemistry with him? So he thought thinking back to that last thing the other man had said in the car. The idea was definitely unpleasant and so was the thought of being the man’s consolation prize because he had to give up that other guy. He didn’t like the thought at all. He was even richer, his company was bigger, he was the candidate for mayor, he had a fancy car and …well who of them looked better probably depended on what one liked but he definitely was not a consolation prize! He was too good to be a consolation prize god damn it!

 

 

 

Maybe Joshua Weißenburg should have gone on vacation at some point in his life. Taken a break, a time out or at least have stood still when he had made it to the top of that one hill enjoying the outlook he had gotten instead of trying to climb over from the top of one hill to the top of the other hill immediately to get even more. To get more power than his money could buy, to influence further, to get further forward because standing still was unbearable for him and made him too nervous to let something pass by and to stop winning. Maybe Weißenburg should too have vented or actually talked about all of this as a private person before, confined in someone during the last six years instead of holding monologues to himself on his mind about what concerned him only, convincing himself that it was fine to feel exhausted but that he should never actually grant the exhaustion enough validity or influence on him to take a step back and rest, pushing himself to keep going to reach higher. Who knew but now the forty years old man was letting himself fall against a younger journalist from the political opposition he was in a relationship with, leaning into the soothing, affectionate kind of touch he hadn’t had for six years and was letting shine through what had built up and gotten shoved away for so long within him and he didn’t care if some people gave him weird looks for sitting with Christopher like that, he was just enjoying the presence of the man and the touch he gave him.

 

Josh took a gulp from the hot chocolate when the man said that his opinions didn’t matter right now that it was about him and the fact that this was happening right now. The blond gave him a small smile. “True. And I am interested in your opinion.” He told him. “I already know my advisers opinions. I know mine. Now I want yours.” He told him. Letting the other know his plan after he asked him about it! The sigh of the other sounded strained and it seemed like Weißenburg’s situation got to the other now that the man looked at it from the inside out and not from the outside in. And Chris was incredibly serious when he spoke to Josh and looked at him that intensely with those green eyes. “Believe me I have no intention to be a martyr. That situation as a target has, well, normalised itself in a way. It has just become something I live with everyday in this city since I run for office. I just wanted to be the mayor and make my home city the greatest in the nation and the world. I obviously didn’t want all that !” He said and the words of his grandfather the old man had said in the morning popped back up on his mind:‘Your rhetoric is inflammatory. And you’re attracting people you don’t want to attract. And who sows the wind will reap the storm. You ain’t gonna have no control no more. You’ve already lost it child.’ And the blond thought that he was getting an idea what the other might have meant with what only had seemed like a baseless accusation to him now that he was having that conversation with Chris.

 

When he felt the man’s hand on his cheek and was then gently kissed he leaned his face into that hand and kissed the back his eyes closing halfly, As their lips parted and the other man was speaking again, telling him that it was easy to dismiss such threats but in the current political climate there was still a chance to take into consideration. Christopher’s voice sounded strained and heavy and he seemed deeply and genuinely worried; as though that was stirring him up inside, getting even clearer when the younger male asked him to please be careful and said that he couldn’t convince him of anything but that he wanted to try, feeling Chris’s warm lips on his hand. Josh brought his other hand to the man’s jaw, caressing it before he let his thumb run over the brunette’s sweet lips. “I’ll be careful. I might revaluate and wait what will happen until I decide what to do or not to do anything at all on this one.” He told him, took his thumb from the man’s lips to be able to kiss him, longer and with a lot of feeling transported within it and when their lips parted and he was laying their foreheads against each other he wished that he wasn’t wearing those stupid sun glasses and that hat and wasn’t hiding his identity. “Should we head to your place after we’ve emptied those cups or would you rather skate some more?” he asked with a slight smile on his lips.

[brinary]

Are they having their first domestic? The surrealness hit him, a hard realization, that this was a milestone couples hit after a honeymoon phase. But they’d only been dating for a short amount of time. But they also weren’t teenagers-- did that eliminate the honeymooning? Their circumstances weren’t cut and dry from the cardboard regularness other people had; obviously things were going to be a bit different for archenemies turned enemies-but-also-lovers-now. It gave Kris a short pause, the brunette staring at Joshua blankly for a moment before his eyebrows furrowed and he snorted. “Getting bitchy and weird?” he parroted, tone baffled. “I can’t laugh at how frustrating you are? What would you rather me do, start a screaming match?” He laughed a little, tone gruffer but chuffed. “Ahh… Get off my fucking dick I’m not going to get crazy in the car and egg on a conversation that’ll only lead to nowhere and anger. It’s our first date. Night-ruining arguments are reserved for the third and fourth ones.” He rolled his eyes once they parked and got out. Adjusting his cap, he still waited for Joshua to exit, obviously not bothered enough to not hold hands.

 

Christopher shoved him roughly, his boyfriend laughing uproariously to the point of utter embarrassment. He was reddened but grinning wildly, trying to make it stern but failing. “Oh shut up!” Any move he tried to make to stop Joshua’s cackling only enacted more laughter. An equal action to butt heads with another reaction only caused a GREATER reaction. When the blonde brought up the “sex tape” incident, Christopher made an indignant squawk and hit Joshua arm, red to the point where the brights of his eyes contrasted the rapidly flushing skin. “Shut UP, Jesus Christ,” he hissed before grabbing the mann’s sleeve and yanking it. “You’re such a cock. You get excited and jumpy about the weirdest things, first it was the freckles, now it’s a stupid in-home spa thing, you’re wwwweeeiirdd.”

 

It was good to make Joshua laugh. The question had been really out of nowhere, and the intentt way Joshua had been staring as he talked was making Christopher nervous. He could tell that there were some choice thoughts funneling into the man’s brain, thoughts which he wished would just dissipate. But the man had a funny way of remembering minor things, focusing on the past, and then blowing them up to apply to himself in a weird compare-and-contrast. Even the ‘I suppose’ didn’t have as much of the brow wagging humor. Worried, Christopher’s mind made a million scenarios, as it was won’t to do. At some point, his best friend and his boyfriend would be in the same room together. Would there be any issues? Reflecting on how he acted with Haye, well-- potentially. They were undeniably cuddly and at ease with each other. They sat close on the couch, hugged each other tight. Haye had gotten used to multiple besos, entering and leaving, and Kris only ever had joking objections to roughhousing. But it was all friendly now. They’d been doing it for years but only now could it cause issue. Joshua seemed really jealous- and was.

 

The blowup at the ice cream shop had been a fine example of Joshua’s response to matters regarding the heart. And that’d been with a former lover, not even a recent flame (although, Christopher maintained mentally, it is a bit different since he’s not over his ex.) So what would he say to his current boyfriend getting cozy with another man? And that sentence of course sounded bad, and he immediately wanted to edit it, but Joshua couldn’t be expected to really understand all the nuances of their friendship from just a short re-telling.

 

Weibenburg was a wound up man who hadn’t had the pleasures of soaking in the sun, who’d gone through military skirmish and thwarted venture capitalists. Compared, well, Haye was similar in design but completely different in all ways. It would be an Ice King versus Heat God meeting of the minds, he could already picture how badly things could go and how he wouldn’t even notice until Joshua reacted. The comfortable groove that his friendship was always ended up in a cuddle or some longform mock-domestic over food, television, radio, anything possible. Even the windows being open could cause a back and forth people would often mistake for a truly cute couple’s argument. It made Christopher nervous. Even worse was the direction that their conversation ended up going anyways, already tense stomach being set off into churning and squeezing spasms.

 

Wasn’t his opinion the thing that always ruined sincere little moments like these? Christopher frowned and shook his head once again, more to banish his own befuddlement. “I just think that there were a series of things that led up to this point, to put it very shortly,” he finally spoke before waving his hand. “Later-- that’s a later thing! Future us will go more into depth with that later.” What he needed to do was get his concerns out of the way and lay them flat out on the table. Seeing Joshua look at him, really look at him, gave him more conviction to double down on expressing his concerns. There wasn’t a smirk or a laugh waiting for him on the man’s face, just an assurance that was… it didn’t help. It was bland and sad. Having violence be normal isn’t something anyone should have to get used to, especially if that violence was threatened directly toward you. With a deep sigh, Christopher rubbed the other’s arm. “I know you didn’t want this-- who would? Well someone crazy enough sure but I think that sort of maniacal genius isn’t something you’d be interested in pursuing, if I’m going out on a limb here.”

 

Hearing the suggestion that Joshua just might sit this one out made his insides heave out a relieved breath. It showed on his face, expression collapsing into a hopeful happiness. He didn’t want to miss this, in some macabre way-- those hands on his face, lips parting just slightly more at the briefest pressure. He met Joshua’s kiss with those emotions going through his system, lips parting and moving with the other man’s before they broke it. Peering up at the other, the brunette lightly rubbed the other’s leg before giving it a firm pat. “Let’s go back to my place,” he finally spoke. “I’ll have to get you used to the disarray sooner or later. And if you get hungry, I’ll cook something for you.” With a kiss to the man’s jaw, Christopher returned to the business of drinking his spiked hot chocolate-- now with great gusto. He was obviously excited for Joshua to return to his small apartment.

 

It made his stomach twist in excitement to have someone over at his home. He loved companionship! Having a man over, a boyfriend, was very different. It had a lot of potentials. A lot of arms-behind-the-couch-oh-no-we’re-suddenly-kissing. The carpet in front of his couch was soft enough to be on his knees; the one in his bedroom was even better. All the thoughts were making him fidget. But he kept himself together, in the car, up the stairs, and finally to the apartment. Christopher flicked the lights on to his apartment, toeing off his shoes and finally retiring the baseball cap to the coat hanger by his door.

 

“Well,” the man stated. “Welcome! Um, it’s pretty regular, obviously,” he said, walking further into the house and turning on his hallway light and the overheads in the kitchen that stretched enough to reasonably warm the living room. Christopher shook a small matchbox and got one out, beginning to light candles on a tablestand. “Make yourself comfortable obviously-- take your shoes off, though, no tracking muck.”

[-Hideki-]

The tomato red face, the battling for sternness and the rough shove Chris gave him that made Joshua stumble only increased his amusement about the entire face mask and musicale situation thing and the fact that Josh’s new boyfriend was doing such awfully stereotypical things his ex had done back then and probably still did where he had already been unable to hold onto himself and to not mock him about it and he’d definitely mock Christopher about it too that was for sure. He might also unbiddenly lick the yoghurt from the man’s face but this was another topic as he was now dealing with his boyfriend getting intensely red faced in a way Weißenburg had deemed impossible, rounded up by that squawk, a hit to his arm and the man hissing at him to shut up again Josh’s eyes blinking amused and mischievous, his thin lips torn into a cocky grin as the journalist was yanking his sleeve and called him a cock calling him once more weird for getting excited about the weirdest things, mentioning the freckles and then the spa-thing. “I just like your freckles, they are hot.” He stated between a laugh. “And if I’m weird you’re twenty times as weird. I’m not the man with the face masks and the musicales and the pedicure…. Hey, my sister does stuff like that all the time. Maybe you want to hang with her and do that together as girls night or something.” he jested and was imagining it causing him to laugh again as he was teasing the other.

 

An eyebrow was raised sceptically and he observed Christopher closely when he sensed that intense nervousness the man was exuding after they had spoken about his best friend the other had had a crush on and this nervousness and reaction was making Joshua suspicious. Was there really nothing left of those feelings anymore? If this man was a friend and their feelings for each other platonic only why was he getting this nervous now? Was he still into that guy after all? It certainly wasn’t the norm to get like that talking to your partner about your friends or your partner meeting your friends what they hadn’t even done yet. Josh wouldn’t get nervous telling Rosario about his friendship with Jiles or with Ari for that matter. He’d not get nervous if the other met them either. And it was comparable wasn’t it? Even though Weißenburg usually called Tristan Jiles a pervert and expressed his disagreement with the guy’s libertarianism he was a close friend of his and he always would be. As with Carlton they had gone through life and death situations, they had witnessed the most gruesome shit, they had helped each other out in situations that had been threatening to their lives and they had been there for each other and had had their backs. They weren’t merely friends, they too were comrades. As for Ari he and Joshua were in an odd kind of symbiosis. Like an old married couple that had been together for so long that one was reflecting in the other what was a symptom of their overall similarities, it had made Ilay jealous sometimes but it was obvious enough that there was no sexual attraction between them and that there had never been any romantic feelings either of them had had. Maybe that was the difference and hence both Jiles and Ari weren’t a good comparison as the brunette had had feelings for this man once or at least claimed he didn’t have them anymore. So the blond was thinking about Foxy and he also wouldn’t feel uncomfortable or nervous about Chris meeting him although they had been a couple for many years since there really wasn’t anything anymore. So what was the other nervous about if he hadn’t just lied to him about his feelings for this guys being something of the past? “Why so nervous?” he then asked inquisitively and sceptically.

 

Laying his blond head a little to the side when he heard the other say that to put it shortly he thought that there had been a series of things that had led up to this point he looked at him. “But isn’t that always the case for everything. That there is a chain of events that leads to a specific moment in life? Doesn’t everything have a prehistory and background?” Josh pointed out as this was something he couldn’t see as specific to this situation but something that was just the nature of pretty much all things. He shrugged though since Christopher didn’t seem to want to give him his opinion at all postponing it to later. “Fine. Later then.” he said as it was no use to try to drag something out of him that he was so reluctant about to say.

 

It made him smile to see how relieved the other was when he said that he’d not rush a reaction and would re-evaluate the situation and what to do or to not do anything, seeing a hopeful shimmer in those green eyes before they kissed and when they parted lips the answer to his question as to whether the other wanted to stay at the ice rink or they’d head to his place was definite and the cuteness of how excited the other man suddenly got thinking about having him over made Josh chuckle and the prospect of the reporter cooking for him again made his mouth water and Josh was indeed lucky to have a high metabolism because he didn’t exactly eat little.

 

The way back from the ice rink to the other man’s apartment went a lot better and with less arguments than the way to it had gone and for the first time he saw the building from the inside and not just from the outside and soon they were standing inside of the journalists apartment that smelled nice to him because it smelled like the other. However the ceiling was indeed not very high and Joshua who was 1,90m was rather close to it and because the other had told him not to complain about it before he of course would make a remark about it. “It is a tiny loser apartment after all. My place is bigger and better. So if we’re moving in together it’s gonna be my place.” He stated placing his beanie and his sun glasses somewhere, his fine hair looking a little messy, as he was fidgeting with the military boots to get them off of his feet before he put his leather jacket onto the hanger looking around in the apartment, following Christopher. “I’ll admit it’s quite cosy though. And neat! You have a cleaning lady too?” he said his hand landing on the brunette’s arse, whispering: “How romantic!”into his ear playfully when the other was lighting the candles, as he was making his way to the sofa as the other had told him to make himself comfortable after all.

 

He meant what he had said though. It was actually a nice apartment although the ceiling wasn’t high. As a kid and a young man he could have only dreamed about something like that. The apartment he had grown up in had been moist, the colour and wallpaper had come off the walls but there had been no money for renovation. The rooms had been tiny, the stuff in them mismatching, plain and old and the heater had been broken. He still vividly remembered that one year in December when he had been twelve years old, where his mother had fallen sick and couldn’t work her jobs and hence didn’t get paid and they had had to pay the doctor and the medicine for her from what his father had earned what had led to them getting disconnected from electricity as they hadn’t been able to pay the bills. They had sat at the table in their coats, scarves and hats in the dark with a candle on Christmas Eve while his mother had been preparing some food she could make without electricity. It had been awful and Josh who had tried to fight his anger had lost that battle and had screamed and complained that this was unfair, that it was horrible and he wanted a decent Christmas too, that everyone had a decent Christmas and they never had anything and now they couldn’t even watch TV anymore and there was water dripping from the ceiling in his room and that he hated all of that until his father’s hand had landed right in his face yelling at him to shut up and stop complaining, with hurt and anger in his expression as he had been suffering too because he couldn’t give his family a better life and Christmas. Shouting at Joshua calling him an ungrateful brat telling him that at least they weren’t living in one of those old buildings with toxins in the walls, fundament and the paint which were rather common in that neighbourhood and then asking him if he was starving and if he was not starving he should shut the fuck up and stop whining or he could try to pay for his next meal on his own.

 

Joshua was sitting down on the sofa, his toes in the grey socks rubbing over the carpet feeling it before he couldn’t resist the urge to lay himself down, his limps reaching over the sofa. His back was still giving him some trouble after all even though he had been fortunate enough that no disc had been extruded. He really shouldn’t have lifted Morrison for that long whilst fucking him, it had not been a good idea and being forced to climb out of the window had not helped. How much did that bloke weigh? More than Josh that was certain. Morrison was tall, broad and buff and Joshua was fucking forty years old and not a youngster in the Army anymore. The blond groaned as he heard his phone buff, pulling it out of his pocket looking at it and he couldn’t help as to roll his blue eyes, hard.

 

On the screen he saw a handsome pale face of a thirty-nine years old man, golden blond hair, three-days-beard and golden-brownish eyes, an expensive suit and a black tie. The headlines of the interview reading: ‘Politics aren’t the sandbox on the playground! I was voted into office to govern not for childish name calling – says Governor Devon Ashfield’ And Joshua’s eyes narrowed at the name. Devon Ashfield! He couldn’t stand that guy! Devon Ashfield was a Republican from the South, the son to a billionaire and the heir to the multinational ‘Ashfield Corporation’. He had gone from his elite private school, into elite university, into his father’s Corporation and from there his father had send him right into politics wanting to make his son a professional politician to further the goals of the Corporation. And said Devon Ashfield had vehemently criticised Washington as well as candidates of his own party such as Joshua for their protectionist and isolationist economic policies and some candidate’s traditionalist social policies but mostly economics explaining in detail how this would have negative effects for the economy in the long run. Joshua who was not a fan of the man in general and was pissed because he was even richer than himself and had gotten further in politics at a younger age as he had been elected governor the first time at 35 without doing anything for it on his own, without fighting for any of it, had in return lashed out on him. He had called him a spoiled brat, daddies little boy, milk-face, sissy, stating he was unpatriotic and had never fought for his country, while stating that he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about because all he cared for was the Ashfield Corporation but not the hard working people and their jobs who Joshua, unlike Ashfield cared for and hence he wanted to protect their American jobs and help their American industry. Joshua’s fans had loved it others not so much especially since it hadn’t worked and Devon Ashfield hadn’t reacted to his name calling but instead had smiled that friendly professional smile of his and had calmly answered with his Southern dialect that what Joshua needed to realise was that the economy and how it interrelated on an international level was much more complex than a hundred years ago, lecturing like a professor a student before addressing the other point by explaining how the high tariffs they wanted to punish foreign industries and companies with would backfire and would not cost the foreign companies but the American companies that needed the goods for production and consumers more money on average, the very people Joshua was claiming to speak for as the goods would get more expensive, doing another round of calculations life on television before stating that for him this would be hardly an issue but that not everyone could effort an increase in prices.

 

That had been humiliating and no matter how much Joshua had tried to catch the guy off guard and to get him to where he could destroy him, who’d be competition one day, it hadn’t worked. Devon Ashfield was keeping it professional. Josh had at least hoped that after the Governor had went against the course of Washington and had kept to his own ideals that he’d be done for and not get re-elected but the guy was quite popular in his home state and he had gotten re-elected regardless. He should have seen that coming. Ashfield was like a chimera, cut one head off then another grew again. If scandals of corruption, the Ashfield’s ancestors having had a cotton farm where slave labour had been a thing and the accusation of his father’s Corporation exploiting workers and even cooperating with companies who used child labour in the third world couldn’t severely harm the Ashfields, how should his name calling and Devon criticise Washington harm them then? Well, maybe Joshua should have just been happy because their party had another governor position but he had not been happy, not at all. And now this fucker was returning the favour just a lot more subtle by criticising unprofessional behaviour in politics and stating how amateurish, dilettante moves were damaging for the political process, discourse and the nation. “God I hate that bastard! Stupid pretty-boy! When I only hear his name, Devon Ashfield,” he pronounced it ridiculing, “and see his dumb face!” he ranted and did something radical, he turned his phone off. Completely off! And flung it onto the table, turning to the side, his blue eyes resting on Chris, wandering up and down his body, resting on his arse. “Get that sexy arse over here will you!”

[brinary]

They were no doubt attracting looks. Christopher, instead of rising to the bait, smoothed his hackles down with one last physical attack to end things- a single pinch to the other’s stomach. “Yeah, I’d love to have a girl’s night. We can watch movies and do face masks and complain about how insufferable you are, and you can go get drunk in one of the various huge rooms in your equally big house and think about how much fun you’re missing out on because you’re a weenie,” the brunette gruffed, giving Joshua a sidelong glance before continuing. “One day your skin’s gonna start crawling down your neck because of your bad attitude and then you’ll be wishing you did a nice collagen mask once your jowls start to develop.” Now it was a fact that Kris didn’t go out and do these things-- he never had himself a massive spa day where he was pampered and deemed precious; those were strictly confined to his home, and he was the one pampering himself how he saw fit. But life had little luxuries that one could indulge in. Sometimes Kris liked to spend extra long under a hot faucet, or perhaps lounge around in a footbath and feel his pressures soak away. The little things could amount to a big impact (not that they really ever did, but in the moment, each activity felt like a blissed out life-changing phenomenon.)

 

Thinking about Haye meeting Joshua in a ‘this is my boyfriend, this is my best friend’ situation was already weird but getting a question about his nerves threw him off. Christopher turned his head quick to stare at Joshua, his own expression reflecting some of that inquisitiveness and skepticism. “I’m not nervous,” he said with a cocked eyebrow. “I’m just thinking about you two meeting now and actually hanging out. Why, do I look nervous? I’m not.”

 

Although he and Haye never developed into anything more than close friends, things could easily be misconstrued and he didn’t want to witness any kind of blow-up, facilitate any ill-feelings-- nothing! He didn’t want anything to do with any potential negatives that could arise from two important men in his life meeting. So the solution, naturally, was to avoid the situation altogether. Christopher of course couldn’t let that happen; there was no way in hell Joshua and he could date without Haye being involved and hanging out somehow. It just wasn’t realistic. The same for Joshua (or at least he assume.) Joshua had important men in his life who were his best friends, who he talked to and interacted with and had years of his life put into. Eventually, Christopher would have to meet them. They might act in a certain way that could rub him the wrong way. There were always little things to agitate people.

 

The issue was that little things to one person meant possible temper tantrum to Mr. Weibenburg, and thus, little things should also be viewed with caution. Almost every scenario in Kris’s head ended up with someone exploding and Haye wasn’t particularly the calm anger people thought he was. Any fight would be a blow up and if a blow up involved Haye, it’d get physical. Picturing the scene made Kris feel a little queasy but he shook it off with a tiny snort.

 

Responding wouldn’t be worth it. It isn’t worth it. He refused to do it. The response lurched to his throat but he swallowed it down, almost literally, just letting Joshua’s answers wash over him. Once the businessman agreed, he smiled in a small, teensy way. “Later.” For now, there ice rink date was done and he wanted to get Joshua home and comfy and cozy and warm. Leave behind all the negativity and slip into a more positive, if not calmer, state of mind. Which his home was perfect for; not just because it was definitely more home-y than Joshua’s mansion, but because Christopher was a pro at making it cozy.

 

Joshua’s remark about his place was expected, even if it was unwanted. Christopher wanted to start a fun little fight but was utterly put off it by the comment about moving in. The scathing look he’d turned his head to give the man stuttered into a sappy, melted smile before he moved on quickly to shake off the swell of affection. Living together-- what a dream. And Joshua was out to his parents now; that meant dinner parties and family nights. Board game fights. He’d have to come out to his parents eventually, too, so they could all be together. Moving in also meant waking up to a stale breath blonde man. Cooking breakfast. Maybe daily sex. The brunette’s heart gave a squeeze as the thoughts continued, so far from reality that he never mustered a clever retort to Joshua’s snark. It finally melted at the mention of a cleaning lady, causing Kris to snort a little. “I cleaned it recently, like adult people usually do with their apartme-- hey!” He whirled around, lips caught between a snarl and a grin. “I could’ve lit a plant on fire and then this relaxation time would’ve been fucked.” Rubbing his ass cheek with one hand, he shook his head ruefully and shook the match to exhaustion, crushing the burnt top with less than a wince and putting it in a tiny trash under one of his table stands.

 

Although it was small, the Hispanic man really did enjoy his place. The neighbors could get on his nerves and sure, the scenery was mostly parking lot and avenue, but it was a comfortable buy. Rent could be paid easily enough with his paycheck and in all honesty, Christopher rarely ever had high bills for the waste, the water, or the electricity. The third was definitely among the higher charges but it came with the territory of his job (and also falling asleep with the television on, the stove light turned to High, and the A/C running hard.) His dream was buying his parents a home-- he did it. He’d also like to have a little cottage all his own; maybe Joshua would like that, too? Glancing at the man as he got comfortable on the couch, Kris’s thoughts again wandered in a thousand different paths, to a thousand different futures. Joshua talked about that Black Sea vacation he’d wanted; a little place all their own, a little cottage, couldn’t be too far off. Would the two of them necessarily need something big? Kris was used to cramped spaces, tightnight enclosures. Maybe that’s what made living in an apartment feel like second-nature. Joshua in a mansion just seemed like some sort of elite dog in a large playpen. What could you do but pad around and look at the space? There was no stimulation except more area to sleep, a little more room to run. If there was an acre to prance around in, though…

 

Christopher felt stupid. They’d barely been dating that long but here were thoughts about domestic life. It didn’t help when Joshua said shit like that-- ‘it’s so small, you’ll definitely be moving in with me, I can’t live with you.’ Didn’t he understand what he was doing to him!? Brunettes were supposed to be the more level-headed of the hair groups apparently, but these fantasies wouldn’t leave Christopher. Mostly because having a boyfriend felt so good and well. Joshua just didn’t seem the sort to give up on anything, and Kris could only imagine that Joshua would have to do or say something REALLY stupid to shake him.

 

Life together seemed almost inevitable. The journalist found that he didn’t mind that prospect much at all.

 

Christopher’s musings didn’t stop him from keeping busy. He filled the kettle with water and put the cap down, setting it to a boil. Peering over the couch for a moment, he looked at the discomfort on Joshua’s face and smiled, kissing his nose. “I’m gonna change, remote’s on the nightstand next to you.” Walking away to his room, he already began to shed the rest of his pants and shirt to switch into something much more comfortable. Date night wasn’t technically over, but if some clothes were going to stop him from getting dick, he supposed ‘semi-daily sex’ would have to be crossed off the ‘Fantasy Life with Joshua’ list. Not a single motherfucker could make him give up the sweet feeling of wearing a pair of sweatpants, or a comfortable t-shirt. After he’d folded up his clothes and put his phone on charger, the man walked in on his boyfriend groaning and paused for a moment. Either it was a back or a business thing. Who cares!-- tea was always a way to make anything feel better.

 

Speaking of, the kettle was beginning to finally get good and hot. Kris went back into the kitchen to rinse some cups out and prepare two cups when he heard Joshua start cussing up a fitful storm about that Devon Ashfield guy. A name that was worn out by Christopher’s excited fellows, no doubt. Devon Ashfield stood as the face for American capitalism at its most well-bred and best-behaved-- an economist with a disarming smile, pleasurable candor, and tactful nature. He was so good at being charming that it tripped even the best of the best up. You couldn’t likely sit down with someone offering you hot chocolate and a slice of their mother’s apple pie and refuse to listen to them talk about the political structure that plays into good economics. Joshua may have had his fanclub but Devon surely had his own. Christopher was even a little kinder on the guy since Haye said such positive things about him; “oh, he’s super nice, has a good character, strong beliefs, seems to put the work into what he want.” Haye’s words were sometimes biased but his opinions on people never really seemed informed by his politics.

 

Of course, he couldn’t say much about the guy. He’d only ever done a short e-mail correspondence and a Skype call interview waaaaaaay back in the beginning of the race. Although candid, both of them had been pretty formal and polite. But Kris had to say, the guy wasa grade A debater. That he could certainly admire. Maybe not openly, seeing as how Joshua disdained him so much. The tension rose palpably over there on the couch but Christopher just continued steeping the tea. A calming blend, some lavender, vanilla, and bergamot. It sounded like it should be odd and it was for sure, but the taste grew on most. At least it’d grown on Christopher.

 

He pinched some crackers to eat alongside the brew when Joshua’s phone clattered and his name was called gruffly. ‘Name’ used loosely, as it seemed his ass held the same amount of agency. “Don’t do any sorta ‘punching bag’ operation on me, I’m too sore from all that skating to fight you,” he huffed as he walked over. Bending some, he nudged Joshua’s phone aside and set down their cups and let the plastic wrapped crackers fall as gently as possible near them. The brunette heaved his boyfriend’s legs up so he could sit and stretch out proper. Once he was comfortable, Kris lowered the appendages and let out a big sigh. “Don’t get aggravated-- remember, date night. Comfortable couch, nice tea, warm room. Good cushions. Happy thoughts.” To emphasize his calming pep-talk (oxymoronic?) he rubbed Joshua’s leg soothingly. “Screaming about another man in my home, to boot. I’m saddened, sickened, and hurt,” Kris faked a mournful tone, pouting down at the other before grinning-- it was hard to keep up the joke when the blonde looked insufferably cute. “Sit up a little bit to drink some tea; it’s a good calming blend. Or I mean, you can lay down and drink it although I tried that maneuver a few times and just ended up spilling things eventually.”

[-Hideki-]

A snorting laugh came from him when his stomach was pinched and Christopher told him how he’d love to have a girl’s night with his sister to complain about Josh’s insufferableness whilst Joshua could get drunk in another room. “Getting drunk in another room doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe I call one of the guys to hang with.” He then grinned, not even paying any attention to the looks they attracted. “I have to warn you though: I get incredibly horny when I’m drunk! I’ll crave your arse like a starving guy food!” the businessman stated the amusement not disappearing when the other basically told him that he’d develop jowls if he didn’t smear collagen into his face. “Yeah, because that shit has totally provable lasting effects and it absolutely won’t revert as soon as you stop buying and using it.” He said sarcastically and laughed. “Aside from that I have no doubts that I’m still gonna be hot at seventy!” he winked but he really hadn’t. He didn’t think much about aging or feared it or whatever. Joshua was certain enough that he’d age well and with dignity and still be attractive if not in the same way he was now.

 

Weißenburg raised his eyebrow higher than the other when his boyfriend was trying to tell him that he wasn’t nervous, that he was thinking about the two of them hanging out, asking if he looked nervous because he wasn’t. “For a journalist you are a really bad liar in face to face situations.” Joshua commented and he frowned. “If you don’t have romantic feelings for him anymore and he doesn’t for you, why would you feel nervous or ‘absolutely not nervous’ as you claim about me meeting that dude. It wouldn’t be the first time anyway. I met him before on some business party, Kelsey introduced him.” The blond wanted to know. “You could meet my friends anytime. If they are around that is.” he told him and this was the truth. If Chris would say he wanted to meet them tomorrow he’d call Jiles and since Carlton was in town right now him too. Ari wasn’t in their city, not even their country so meeting up wasn’t done with a call. Josh and him usually video chatted. Weißenburg however didn’t like that Christopher was trying to lie to him. Josh didn’t lie to his boyfriends. Lying to your partner could potentially cause a lot of unnecessary trouble and endanger the relationship; the negative outweighed the minor temporary benefits completely. Weißenburg actually liked to think that he never lied altogether or at least he saw himself like this. However making up his own facts politically many regarded as lying. More recently he had stated that it was a fact that the invaders who had been about to storm their borders had been infiltrated by Muslims who were terrorists and rapists and that they had to be stopped with all might or worse things than on New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Germany a few years ago would happen all across the country as well as dozens of terror attacks, because those illegal’s were mostly terrorists. Being asked whether he had evidence for such a case Joshua had said that he needed no evidence but that it was common sense and that it was really likely and there totally could be terrorists and if they could prove to the American people there were no terrorists and rapists among those people, answering that with they couldn’t. Then they had accused him of lying what had pissed him off and he had lashed out on the journalists again.

 

Expertly Joshua ignored Chris’s scold about the slap to his arse and lighting plants on fire what could potentially lead to burning shit down and focussed on the other man’s remark regarding him asking Rosario if he had a cleaning lady too. “You mean adult people who can’t effort a cleaning lady?” he corrected with a laugh. “Which man would do house chores voluntarily, come on now!” the blond stated. “My mansion would be a total mess if I didn’t have my cleaning angel. Her name is Yvonne. Maybe you’ll see her one day. Always complains about my bad man habits and wants to set me up with her cousin because she thinks I need a woman. And I’ll never fire Yvonne!” he told him and he definitely wouldn’t. He’d not try to do a single house chore ever again; he hated it, with a passion and sucked at it on top of that. Back when he and Carlton had rented that apartment in the city under the disguise of being “room-mates” the place had been a complete mess. Neither of them wanted to do the house chores, they’d leave them in the hopes the other would do them in the end and they only ever did something when it was absolutely necessary, like when neither of them had any clean clothes anymore. Whenever his sister had dropped by she had found the place so awful that she couldn’t sit still until it was tidied up.

 

After Josh had flung his phone onto the coffee table because he was pissed off by Ashfield’s face and that arsehole pissing on his parade now because Joshua had pissed on his and he was calling for Rosario to come over to him the other warned him to not try to pull some punching bag kinda thing with him because the brunette was too tired to fight what led the blond to raise his eyebrows. He too didn’t want to fight nor had he intended to start a fight. He just wanted the other around and to snuggle up against him but he certainly wouldn’t say that, it’d definitely snow in hell before he’d ever say that so ‘get your arse over to me onto the couch’ was as close as it would get. His blue eyes followed the other coming over with two cups of tea and some cookies and after his phone was shoved aside and the cups placed onto the coffee table Josh wanted to retract his legs but it wasn’t necessary as Christopher heaved them up and settled down on the sofa as well, giving his legs a rub as he reminded the man to not get worked up over something work related and what date nights were all about. Followed by the other jesting about how saddened and hurt he was about Weißenburg screaming the name of another man in his house. It made Josh let out a snorting laugh. “Good that I haven’t screamed the name of a MAN then but was just talking about Devon Ashfield.” He remarked with a wink on his face once more implying the guy was unmanly what he really wasn’t but Josh wanted to see him as unmanly.

 

Devon was the polar opposite of Joshua. He was an economical global player, constantly reminded about the importance of multilateralism and a leading role of the US in international affairs these days. He who was basically a capitalist small-government, ‘the freer the market the freer the people’ kinda guy and was also incredibly diplomatic what was the aspect Joshua based calling him a sissy on. But the Southern politician was in no way giving Josh or Washington an inch even though it might seem like he wasn’t fighting back because he wasn’t even agreeing on engaging in their fights and that only enraged the faction of the party Josh was a part of all the more. As the tariffs had been announced Ashfield had made a provoking statement and had invited a lot of important people from Europe and China to plan new projects with in his state. He had done damage control with foreign leaders and had spoken out against nationalistic agendas, breaking down how isolation would actually endanger the number one status of their nation and not secure it. All whilst ignoring the attacks even from the president …via twitter! Being asked about it he had only had to say:”I don’t have time for twitter, I have a rather busy schedule. My assistant publishes my public appointments and keeps the people up to date on there but I am not spending time online. I sure have heard what has been said about me and if that is what the president thinks about me, well, it’s a free country, he can post on twitter whatever he likes. I support freedom of speech.” He generally didn’t seem to engage in personal fights openly and avoided getting into them. Even when asked directly what he thought about the president he had said:” I believe in democracy and he has been democratically voted into office with the topics he is now implementing and that has to be respected. Do I personally think that this will be in anyway beneficial? No. Do I think it will have negative effects for the economy and the nation? Yes. Will I support such policies? No. I however wish for the best outcome for the nation and am open to work together with Washington in a compromising manner for the best interest of my state and my country, thank you.”

 

There really was no comparison between Josh’s style of politics and Ashfield’s. Josh’s speeches were ostentatious, furious, gotten the people heated up, appealed to their emotions, wishes and fears, it was big theatre and Devon Ashfield on the other side was calm, professional and used empirical facts as well as calculations trying to appeal to the people’s reason. Josh was on a nationalistic course, Ashfield was rather metropolitan and the man with the gold-blond hair could one day get into Weißenburg’s way. The only thing both of them had in common was their support for the war against terror and their loathe for the Islamic ideology but both men had come to different solutions and communicated their issues entirely differently, Ashfield’s having more in common with Jiles’s criticism and warnings on religious ideologies. Joshua didn’t want to run against him to get nominated to run for a higher office one day by his party. At least not when Devon was as strong as he was now! So he had to saw on the legs of the other’s chair but for now Chris was right, they were having a date and they should get comfy and focus on each other and not let that Mister pretty-face get into the way of a great night.

 

A small sigh came from him as he let the topic rest on his mind and heard the journalist urge him to sit up and drink some of the tea he had made or to try lying down. “I’ll get up or I’ll look like a participant in a wet T-shirt contest.” The man said and sat up a little reluctantly, groaning slightly as his back protested wanting him to keep lying where he had laid. “I should pay the doctor a visit and get myself another shot in the back.” He commented - letting out the fact that the doc would not be amused because he had told Joshua to slow it down and Weißenburg had not taken anything slow at all - sitting close to Chris, taking the cup of tea. As he tasted the hot liquid he made a curious, questioning face at the taste. “That’s odd.” He said and took another sip. “Well, I do taste some vanilla. Vanilla is my favourite flavour; this would be amazing if it was more vanilla and less other stuff and then drinking it together with my sister’s white-chocolate and vanilla cupcakes!” his mouth watered as he was thinking about those cupcakes his sister made. She had made that receipt just for him because he loved vanilla and white-chocolate and sometimes she even put vanilla flummery into the cupcake. Placing the tea back onto the coffee table he grabbed a cookie and then laid down again, this time his head onto Chris’s lap though, rubbing his cheek against the other’s thigh somewhat, glad he didn’t wear jeans anymore but some sweat-pants as the fabric was softer and more comfortable for his face, looking up into the reporter’s green eyes with his blue ones as he bit the cookie which compared to the extravagant tea was pretty basic and normal and tasted well. “So, what are your plans with me, over here, in your apartment, tonight?” he asked in a teasing playfulness, grabbing another cookie because he could.

[brinary]

Absurd, but still funny. Christopher was still terrified to spend too long by himself in a room with any of Joshua’s family members for fear that he’d be an utter embarrassment. But there was nothing that brought people down to their core human standards than mud smeared across the skin. Mud and inebriation. The things human beings had at the very beginning and would probably have ‘till the very end. And with the next thing Joshua said, he mentally added ‘sex’ to that short list.

 

Mud, inebriation, and sex. His eyes rolled but without any direct malice, still a bit bashful about discussing that sort of intimacy-- even though he relished it. Being desired hadn’t happened for a long time; Kris told himself he’d need to get a little more used to it, if just not to annoy Joshua. “You’ll have to find something else to eat,” he joked to himself as he watched the older man shrug off his comments. The twinkle in his eye and the edge of amusement around his mouth made a pretty picture; Christopher did love arguing, but if the trade-off to a bad counter was getting to see a nice image, he would learn not to mind.

 

Weibenburg calling him out made bushy eyebrows lift in surprise before scrunching together. Christopher’s doubtful expression came from personal feelings that may have been unjustified, sure, but there was some certainty in how things would play out. “I’m not lying,” he defended with a rude grunt. “I just don’t think it would be as smooth sailing as you’re making it out to be.” The two men were as tall and as built; Haye definitely had more weight on him than Joshua, but less skill. He could throw someone around and was a mean tackler-- brute force and a keen eye for telegraphed moves kept him handy to break apart bar fights or be benched during flag football. Military training was different; Haye could wrangle, but Joshua could probably knock out, if Christopher could base knowledge off of how his sister operated. Then again… age was something he didn’t consider before. And Joshua definitely had a back problem. “It’s different meeting someone as an associate then meeting someone as, y’know, the boyfriend of your best friend. That’s a different mix of feelings.” And that was just a baseline situation. Joshua Weibenburg as a subject for Christopher’s political writing had a much more contentious topic. They had arguments about him before, but more than that, Haye had been pissed at the things the candidate had said. Groused over how he, as a topic was making his best friend a walking zombie. Holding such a different dynamic with the businessman didn’t erase the prior history-- a prior history that couldn’t be easily overlooked. Flipping the topic over and over in his head made Kris just dislike the premise more altogether. He glanced away at Joshua’s remark about meeting his friends, merely replying, “I don’t think they’d like me.”

 

Imagine meeting a lot of people who were probably so different from him-- who probably already disliked him based purely on what he was. Even Joshua’s ex had a thing out for him; Joshua’s ex, the more mild of his associates. Walking into a firing squad may have been fun on any other day but this time, Kris wanted to try and approach this with a certain amount of calculation than he usually would have. This relationship was something precious and building it would mean not throwing balls to the wind and flying into death all the time. Funny how that worked out-- them even being together had been a decision based on a sort of recklessness. But holding that same chaotic energy wasn’t justified. It wouldn’t work. He didn’t want to ruin this.

 

Christopher expertly engaged Kris’s little correction with a perfectly timed eyeroll. The cheek. “Oh yeah, laugh it up,” the man huffed. “But you’re the one with poorer skills in the long run-- self-sufficiency extends in all directions; cleaning included[/i[. Being a grown man and now knowing how to take care of daily little house chores is super low-quality.” At least his culture had been centered around totally dominating in the cleaning business, regardless of sex or class. Even the richer folk had some care for their personal cleanliness (poorer than others, of course, they had especially great maids.) He opened his mouth with a rebuttal, stuck his tongue out before making one, then launched into a defense. “Angels come and go-- what if Yvonne suddenly has to up and leave? It can happen!” Kris insisted. “Which is why it’s important to know how to function without having someone to clean up after you. Just some simple sweeping, a little bit of mopping, what settings to have the laundry on. It’s not that hard. You’re such a baby.”

 

Although he shouldn’t be one to talk. If they ever did live together, the brunette already knew he’d probably pick up after his lover like the obnoxious human-Swifter he was.

 

Jeez, did he get worked up. “Does manliness really matter when the news networks pronounce his name correctly more often than yours, Joshua? C’mon.” Christopher personally hadn’t been the one to compile the itemized differences between all the major runners in the city-- he merely reblogged it and added some addendums as an editor. But the styling of his colleague's particular article was pointedly set up to draw the biggest difference between Joshua and Devonn. It’d become more and more obvious through the political campaign. Commercials, advertisements, reports, and essays. It painted stark portraits. It was weird to have someone he kind of liked being bashed in his home, but y’know. It’s Joshua. What was he gonna tell him? ‘Hey stop bad mouthing your big competitor, it makes me wanna roll my eyes’ because that wouldn’t fly right at all. The hypothetical argument was clear in his mind and Christopher would’ve grimaced if he wasn’t already aware of how weirdly keen Joshua was on subtle expressions. Funny how ‘subtle’ was something the man could be good at. Even if Joshua seemed very solid in his reasoning to wave away Devon’s man-status, Christopher still saw him as a competitor-- a competitor for attention. Devon would not win out over him when it came to primary focus. Mostly, he was going to ensure that Joshua didn’t fuck up this sweet post-skate date with his stress, tirades, and jeers. Selfish as it sounded, it was Kris’s night and it would be his to claim.

 

“I’d pay to see you in a wet T-shirt contest. You’d get obsessively competitive and ridiculously handsome,” Christopher shot back with a teasing glimmer in his eyes. Squeezing the other’s leg gently, he continued, musing. “Maybe you can do a carwash for charity gig, daisy dukes and white t-shirt included.” The thought amused him as he shifted to accommodate his achy boyfriend more. A hand instinctively went to Joshua’s back to rub the area in gentle circles as the brunette watched him drink. Eyebrows lifted in a bemused expression, Christopher shook his head. “You’re a fan of the sweets-- over-indulge and you’ll see yourself with a crazy painful root canal someday.”

 

It would’ve been a good threat but something told him that from past wiggly-fingered warnings, Joshua would dismiss it with a claim about… something or other. How great he was or how it wouldn’t bother him even if it did happen or small chances. Which was annoying but quickly became a quality Christopher found gratingly endearing. Enjoying his own tea, the man looked down as he felt Joshua move around and the heavy weight of the man’s head fall on his lap. The sight made his heart hammer and he felt his cheeks warm considerably.

 

Oh. Man, he had a cute boyfriend.

 

Without really thinking about it, his free hand went and ran through the others usually combed and coiffed hair, short blunt fingernails rubbing gently at the older man’s scalp. He smiled fondly down at what he considered to be a blessing and curse. The expression on his partner’s face was no less than adorable.

 

He wanted Joshua to bend him over and screw him senseless, romantically, most of the time but this was the sort of view that made him want to take Joshua into his mouth like he was a ritual-- some sort of holy communion.

 

“Mm.” He couldn’t even bring himself to say anything at first, just smiling and watching the other with a gaze that was between smoldering and smitten. “I wanted to get you feeling relaxed and content,” Christopher finally said, still playing with the other’s hair as he idly drank his tea. “Have you feel soothed… Affectionate… A little full off of cookies and tea. Then hopefully let me suck you off,” he finally hummed. “Take a warm bath together? Suck you again? Or we could just sleep. Someone needs a lot of rest, with their bad back.” He grinned, teeth showing, in a show of charm as he teased the older man. It was easier to forget their age difference since Christopher felt older than his years, anyway.

 

But sometimes Joshua's little winces and grimaces when he moved too much reminded the brunette that he may be broken, but it wasn't from the years wearing on him, unlike a certain silver fox. Speaking of cute creatures...

 

Setting his tea aside, Christopher bent himself to place a kiss on Weibenburg’s forehead and stopped there, staring at him for a moment. “Of course, this is fine, too,” he finally admitted. “I like seeing you in any state adjacent to ‘happy.’ And you look really good cuddled up right now.” Brushing his bangs aside, the man kissed him again before reclining once more. Since his phone was so close, he switched between tea and the device, unlocking it to take a quick picture of the man with a fiendish grin. “Cute.”

 

Joshua could be described as one of this massive jungle cats. Like a grizzled mountain lion or some sort of panther who was as ferocious as it was fickle.

[-Hideki-]

Amusement mixed with cockiness when Chris jokingly told him off, telling him he had to find something else to eat after his declaration of how horny he got when he drank what was, although his remark had been all playful, very true. “You want me to find another guy’s arse to eat?” he asked jestingly. “I didn’t know you were one of those guys with that sort of kink. Then again you are a leftist so I probably should have known.” Weißenburg laughed, grinning teasingly, blowing a kiss Chris’s way mocking the other a little for getting that dismissive whenever Josh expressed that he wanted him and found him attractive where at this point a clear pattern was to see.

 

For a moment the man with the snow-white face and the fair blond hair was quiet for once. His blue eyes observed the journalist after he had made it known that he had his doubts about him meeting his best friend, that he wasn’t seeing it going down smoothly only to add that it was different to meet someone as an associate than meeting him as the best friend’s boyfriend. Weißenburg was thinking about this and he came to the conclusion that he still didn’t like where this was going. “It might be a different situation but usually there shouldn’t be an issue.” He found. “Unless what you think is that your friend doesn’t want you to have a boyfriend, doesn’t want you to be happy, enjoyed the dynamics where he got all the guys and you stayed empty handed admiring him, coming down to the fact that he had been keeping you warmed up or he realises that he is jealous and into you after. Then yes, it would be fundamentally different and matter a lot to him to meet me in that scenario. ” Joshua concluded. “Another one would be that he couldn’t stand me and didn’t want me specifically as your boyfriend. But he doesn’t really know me. We just talked a little there seemed to be no issue. Other than that I don’t see why he’d have a problem with me being your man. Or is it my campaign and my politics again?” he added and sighed. “He didn’t appear to be a left-winger or a Democrat to me when I met him but if he doesn’t like my politics, tough luck.” Josh shrugged. “It’s on you to decide whether you want to keep me a secret from him or tell him we’re together.” The man feigned indifference while in reality he did mind and would certainly like to demonstrate to this potential completion he now didn’t trust one bit anymore that Rosario was his.

 

With narrowed eyebrows he looked to the man when he turned his gaze away from him before telling him that he didn’t think Josh’s friend would like him. “Why would you think that?” Weißenburg wanted to know because he really didn’t see where that was coming from and he didn’t think that his friends would feel hostile or negative towards the reporter. True, Carlton would definitely laugh about them, loudly, a lot, he’d not stop to laugh about them soon since for one he found it hilarious that Joshua would end up with a journalist paparazzi who broke into his property and recorded a sex tape of him and he too couldn’t overlook the irony and hypocrisy of Josh out of all people dating a South American immigrant left winger. If Rosario wasn’t offended by the laughter there wouldn’t be an issue. Foxy was the most apolitical person in Weißenburg’s circle of friends. He found that politicians were clowns and actors who were basically good for nothing without the actual professionals and advisers especially from the military. If one asked him if he was in favour of the Republicans or the Democrats he asked where the difference was and whether the person really thought it would make any at all. At the last polarising election he had said in case he wouldn’t have other, more important plans he’d flip a coin to figure out whom of those buffoons he was giving his vote.

 

And Jiles was generally pretty easy to get along with as long as one kept a sense of humour and wasn’t easily offended. Sure the man being a libertarian made him opposed to authoritarians and his Antitheism offended religious people but in the end Josh had witnessed a bizarre dynamic based in below the belt sexual jokes between him and some fascist online because the fascist actually had a sense of humour as absurd as it sounded, unlike Ryan Stephenson who had not been able to handle Jiles in the slightest. Tristan also didn’t know that Christopher had broken into Josh’s property what he would certainly condemn because privacy was one of his core values but Weißenburg thought that even if he knew and saw Josh was with him despite it, hence over it somehow, he’d let it be as well.

 

The only one where he saw a potential issue coming their way now that he gave it some thought was Ari! Ari was incredibly similar to Josh - minus the narcissistic personality and the passion in favour of more calmness and seriousness - especially politically. It was difficult to imagine Chris and Ari getting together on anything, especially since he didn’t know Chris’s opinions on foreign policy and issues that hit closer to home for Weißenburg’s friend. Them meeting would certainly be a minefield or so he thought considering that the journalist compared to the both of them stood far left. Difficulties might also appear on a personal level he had to admit. The way Chris sometimes mocked Josh for his opinions, how he was making insulting jokes etc. would not sit well with the Israeli soldier. Joshua could handle it, he took it on a purely jesting level, mocked back and just stripped all seriousness from it and overlooked some of it but Ari he knew would not. His friend was a sceptical, maybe even paranoid being. He quickly saw attacks coming and he just as quickly and as hardly defended himself. He gave short shrift. If the journalist went too far with the mockery and the underlining insults he’d see the doctor’s office from within if he was unlucky. And although the soldier was merely a few centimetres taller than Christopher, he was definitely a lot stronger. After Ari’s mother had lost her husband to a terrorist attack she had already send her children to a professional self-defence and survival training at an incredibly early age, both him and his sister had been in the Army and Ari remained in the Army till that day whereas his sister was a dancer and a DJ nowadays.

 

Then again it wasn’t like it would be the end of the world if the two didn’t get along as long as they behaved. It wasn’t like Ilay had gotten along with all of his friends either and Josh hadn’t even introduced him as his boyfriend – although everyone had known regardless. Ilay had not been fond of Jiles and vice versa. Since to the lawyer, regardless of not being as orthodox as his family and despite all modernity, his religion was still serious in a way and he respected his families culture a lot. And Tristan Jiles, the antitheist who continuously pissed on all religions, wore shirts with ‘God is dead’ on it or where someone was throwing the signs of all major religions into the garbage bin, who on top of that had no respect for any tradition at all and was opposed to cultural relativism had been nothing but rude and offensive and indecent in Ilay’s eyes, nor had he been able to deal with Tristan’s specific humour. When they had first met Ilay had criticised Jiles’s clothing telling him he found it insensitive and offensive leading to Jiles, who had still been in the Army back then and in better health and shape, to burp into his face saying:”I find your face and the fact that you are wearing women’s underwear offensive too but this is a free country, you can go out with that face and wear women’s underwear and I have to deal with it and I can wear this shirt and you have to suck it up.” This had led to a red faced Ilay getting mad and insisting that he wasn’t wearing women’s underwear only for Jiles to say that Ilay’s imaginary sky daddy had something against lying and men in women’s underwear. Their trip had been a shit fest. Thus this whole thing between Jiles and Ilay had been fixed by Joshua later on another day their banter had threatened to ruin locking them up in a room, sitting down in front of it with his laptop and some snacks telling them that he’d only open the door and let them out again if they got along. It had caused a lot of protest, a lot of being yelled at and insults flung Josh’s way but the man had just said that it was on them. If they got along he’d let them out otherwise if they didn’t he had a lot of time to leave them there as long as it took. It had taken twenty-four hours and Jiles and Ilay had bonded over a mutual enemy which had been Joshua whose childish stubborn behaviour had pissed both of them off equally and he had let them out with a smile and a:”You could have had that a lot earlier.” And for a moment he had thought Jiles would punch his face in but the man had just said:”Suck my balls Weißenburg you stupid motherfucker!” and had been out of the door, slamming it close, before Ilay had called him unbelievable, an arsehole, an idiot, a man-child saying he’d marry him if it was legal just to get to say that he wanted a divorce from him, yelling that he couldn’t just force his stupid will on people in such a way leading Josh to laugh and say “But it worked!” and in the next moment Ilay had thrown something into his face.

 

Well, if it came to the worst he could just do that with Ari and Chris too, it would certainly work, he just was a genius there was no doubt about that. However for now he just flung a smile the other man’s way. “I really don’t see why you’d think that. I mean, you already met Terry and that went absolutely perfect. I even got a free granola bar out of it.” The conservative candidate winked.

 

“A baby who doesn’t have to do something as dull as house chores.” Josh said with his head held high, still grinning. “If Yvonne has to leave, I’ll get myself another cleaning angel, simple as that. Maybe her cousin Svetlana who knows, she’s really, really fond of me and my mansion you see, because my mansion is a lot bigger than other people’s mansions.” Weißenburg stated wiggling his eyebrows with a laugh but if he had to search for another cleaning lady he knew it would be everyone but Svetlana. Yvonne had once brought her in an attempt to set them up claiming she needed her help to get home earlier that day and Svetlana, who had her tits falling out of her tight corset and a skirt that was skin-tight and as broad as some belts, giving view of her panties, had smiled at him telling him how he needn’t worry and that she’d take good care of his home. And oh had she taken care and not only of his home. She had made Weißenburg so uncomfortable that the billionaire had fled his own house from her that much had she been hitting on him and tried to seduce him. She had massaged him and pressed her giant plastic tits against his head while doing that, whispering suggestive things into his ear, complementing him on how impressive of a man he was, pretending to clean under the seat he had been sitting on with her head on the same height as his crotch and her hand seemingly curelessly grabbing his thigh. And had Joshua Weißenburg been straight and not that gay he’d now been married to an Ukrainian cleaning lady with a diploma in mouth and tongue acrobatics who looked like a playboy bunny, probably had been to see in one or the other magazine and in one or the other porn movie before as well making Svetlana a billionaire’s wife and getting her a green card which neither she nor Yvonne actually had what Josh didn’t exactly know because he had been wise enough to never ask them but what he suspected and he didn’t care about because Yvonne was cleaning his mansion reliably and efficiently and everything at his place was always shining nice and clean.

 

Crossing his arms in front of his chest and making a pouting, stubborn face he laid there when his boyfriend remarked that manliness didn’t really matter when Ashfield’s name was pronounced correctly ever more often than his own. “All that shows is that his name is common and simple. My name is standing out more and it has more letters and is generally bigger and better than his name.” the Republican candidate for mayor said and he meant it! “Besides, this sissy has been in politics for years and he is a governor of his home state. When I have this many years in politics the whole world will know how to say my name and will write and speak about me and I’ll be more than just a governor, and everyone will envy the US for having such a genius politician as myself, believe me, it will happen!” he swore and he meant that too.

 

Weißenburg laughed at the other saying he’d pay to see him in a wet T-shirt contest and how he’d get obsessively competitive what was funny because it would probably be true. “I’d win this for sure. Cause I’m not only hot, I’m a winner.” Joshua announced jokingly, snorting at the image on his mind when the other was talking about a carwash charity gig. “I bet you’d love that and would get hard watching me again huh?” he teased, poking the other’s stomach while he enjoyed getting his legs squeezed and then his aching back rubbed able to get used to someone paying some mind and attention to his body and being affectionate to him in such a manner again. The man who was rather tense due to stress would actually kill for a decent massage at this point, one that didn’t contain Nisha, her stepping onto his back or burning stones, but the strong hands of another man instead.

 

The reaction to Weißenburg’s passion for vanilla flavoured stuff was met with a reaction Chris himself would have commented as lame. “Yes mummy.” He said rolling his eyes at the ‘sweets are bad for your teeth’ comment. “If my favourite flavour and cup-cakes will have such an effect I have to buy myself new teeth, because, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m fucking rich!” he then added. Then again at least the whole ‘mummy attitude’ where his lover was constantly worrying about the negative effects his doings could potentially have on his health was a new one. Making jokes about how he was ‘vanilla’ or ‘into vanilla’ or a ‘vanilla boy’ he had heard all already, especially from Jiles – what was probably fair enough because Josh regularly called him a pervert- but from Foxy too.

 

After he had rested his head onto Chris’s lap he could see a blush sprouting over the handsome face of the other and it led to him smiling rather widely as he was looking up into those pure green eyes but his own eyes closed when he felt the man’s fingers on his scalps giving him a scalp massage, leading to a deep groan escaping the businessman as his body relaxed further under Rosario’s hands, listening to the man telling him what he had been thinking about doing with him. The prospect that was painted for him for that night was definitely promising and he grinned humming:”Making me relax and showering me with affection sounds good. Having my cock sucked afterwards even better.” And on his mind he was seeing himself getting his whole body massaged before getting into 69 to have his cock sucked and suck Chris off as well. That got wiped away by the other making fun of his back pain and his age though suggesting that he needed a lot of sleep and rest with his bad back. “Dickhead!” he hissed, opening at least one eye. “As if you could handle lifting up a guy like Morrison whilst pounding his arse and then being forced to climb out of the window and jump from the rain shelter without a scratch afterwards yourself ‘youngster’!” he commented. “And I’m in perfect health. I didn’t even extrude a disc or something, just strained. The doc said I should take it slow for a while and it’ll be awesome again.” Weißenburg told him but he didn’t tell him that he had not taken it slow, nor did he tell him that even if he wanted to he didn’t have an idea how to even do that. Joshua had never once slowed down. He had always worked a lot, worked even more and had had a lot of sex; that was how he had rolled since decades.

 

When he heard Rosario express how it would be fine like that as well and that he looked really good cuddled up to him like that Joshua was opening both eyes and in the next moment he had a picture of himself taken by the brunette who was then looking at his work calling it ‘cute’. “Why doesn’t that surprise me now, bloody stalker!” Weißenburg rolled his eyes and pulled the phone out of Christopher’s hand looking at the picture that had just been taken from him. “Mmmh…” he made. “You’re right though, I do look absolutely stunning and really cute on it.” Joshua found that he liked the picture before he handed the phone back to Rosario again. “It’s your background picture now.” he smirked, sticking his tongue out. “How about we pay attention to the massaging and sucking dick again?”

[brinary]

Being called a cuckold wasn’t new, but it did still make him snort. The insinuation may have been tired but it was one of those things that few people ever really said enough to warrant Christopher actually feeling any sort of negativity. In reality, he was sure that facing off with “losing” Joshua to some other piece of meat would make him launch into some weird fury. Maybe a constrained, tight anger but an anger nonetheless. He’d lash out in long, grumbly rants and probably slap his partner once, twice, thrice. Enough times until he felt like they could transition smoothly from fighting to kissing. Now that was the sort of enthusiasm that could be relished. He could try to not deflect Joshua’s attention so much, since he did genuinely feel warm whenever a compliment even slightly landed his way. As soon as the thought occurred to him, though, he dismissed it.

 

Mutual silence was present for that pause. Christopher tried to tell himself it wasn’t uncomfortable, but he could feel the eyes looking at him openly. Turning his head slightly, the man felt his fingers twitch to begin running through his hair as some half-assed mechanism to distract himself. Yeah, it was uncomfortable. Quiet Joshua was cute, but Quite Questioningly Quiet Joshua made the journalist feel like his back was about to be rearranged. Some weird feeling that cramped his spine. Once the other man finally spoke, Kris felt some tension ease through him- even if the words weren’t what he agreed with. As his boyfriend continued to flesh out his reasoning and analysis, Kris couldn’t help the little fold that creased his brow before it became a fully realized expression, eyebrows scrunched together in unspoken feeling. Seeing his best friend in that way was painful without a doubt and his head immediately rejected the notion.

 

That just wasn’t how things were and wasn’t how things worked. And maybe Joshua’s point of view wasn’t totally warped, maybe Kris could understand where he was coming from, but he knew more on the subject of his friendship than anything. “He’s just protective,” the brunette settled with. “Things change when you’re protective. It’s not even that big of a deal. I didn’t want to make it seem like a big deal.” He wanted to disengage from negative-realm and was glad to turn to explaining himself rather than have Joshua give his opinions. Joshua’s opinions made him feel weird.

 

“I just think that our personalities will be mismatched,” Chris answered. “Sometimes I can’t control my mouth, and maybe they’ll think I’m odd or very strange, you know-- there’s a whole host of things. Which I guess isn’t that big of an issue; not everyone likes each other. It’s just… There are a select group of people you love and trust, and ideally, I’d like to love and trust them, too. But I know not everyone works like that.” His family included much of what was his parents’ close friends, ones they both shared an alliance and unity and love with. He grew up with that being the normal and knowing now that those situations were actually rarer than not, it was easier to accept what he’d have to face.

 

Didn’t mean it still didn’t suck. Especially considering how they met… If Ilay was any indication of what awaited him from a few other men, well. He’d have to be prepared. Just remembering the chilly way the other spoke to him, the clear threat-- not to do anything, as much as, as a Person. Ilay was Threatening as a person in that situation. Imagine the things-- had Joshua spoken about him yet? Did his friends know he was romancing (being romanced by?) the snot-nosed reporter that’d ‘harassed’ him just a short time ago? For some reason, this prospect of Joshua candidly discussing him spiked arousal and panic in Chris’s gut. They moved from that discussion pretty easily though, into something Joshua was much more boisterous about and that wasn’t confusing to the reporter-- boasting! That man did love him a good boasting. Christopher let himself get comfortable as he weathered the braggadocious man in his lap.

 

Did mansion sizes relate at all to dick measuring? It was just another form of pissing contest, which Chris didn’t doubt Joshua had made sure that he could win, as well. Unsurprising, that. Although he was inclined to rile up the other man with some tease or comment, he just sighed instead and relaxed his urges to nettle. “Your mansion is bigger, your name is bigger, your status is better, and on and on, you win all the awards,” the reporter groaned and pinched the tip of his boyfriend’s nose with a snort. “Everything is like a little contest to you. I haven’t seen such a competitive spirit since my sister, and she’s intense as is. Jeez.”

 

“Yeah, you certainly know how to work up a crowd, the looks help some, too. Just don’t open your mouth or you might get that soapy water inside.” Christopher had that tickle in his brain to roll his eyes at Joshua’s confidence but it’d become cute and also rang true. There was no denying that the man was built beautifully and had a certain essence that commanded attention- even before his mouth opened to yell for people to look at him. At the next comment, Christopher swatted the leg under his hand with a snort. “Oh, please. I have self-control, unlike some other hot-blooded creatures,” he giggled. “But it would be nice to watch. I’d be more focused on being an unbiased cheerleader.” His ministrations continued, working, rubbing, and squeezing the muscled flesh.

 

‘In case you haven’t noticed, I’m fucking rich’ had to be up there for something Joshua has said that is so apt, describes his attitude so perfectly, that Chris could have been lulled right then and there into a nirvana from the divine understanding. The perfection in simplicity. The effect the sentence had on him was strong and calmed Christopher into a state where he left it alone, feeling no need to respond or one-up the man. How could you tweak perfection?

 

That, maybe, could have been kept back. Candid though they were, Christopher felt his face pale then color at the open description of handling Morrison’s body. Obviously there had to be a little bit of an exploitation of a teensy insecurity- or open target for hurling jabs- but the response wasn’t completely expected. He flushed like a teenager in sex education and felt himself laugh almost nervously though it was quiet enough to not show the sudden shock of nerves. “I don’t think I’d find myself in the situation to be doing that kind of heavy lifting regardless…” To think that’s what his current boyfriend [hehe] did; lift up heavy police officers, enough to engage in deep sexual acts. It was a road to be traveled another time, though. Christopher refused to entertain the pleasures that could be explored from such a teensy story when making fun of Joshua was on the line. “The doctor said you should. And I’m very certain you haven’t and have no plans on it.”

 

Nothing surprised him. With an easy, amicable way, Christopher let Joshua snatch, pout, glower and fuss on his phone with barely any commentary. The only thing that might have changed was the tiniest centimeter growth across his face as his smile stretched at a particular point. An old, sharp lone wolf grown into a housecat through careful spoiling later in life-- that was what he had in his lap right now. A present and a curse. “Thank you,” he replied dryly, looking at his new setup. It was sweet, though. He realized that this was the first time he ever had something like that for himself, a reminder of his love and his relationship right there when he unlocked his phone. He could’ve basked in the moment a little longer if Joshua hadn’t chosen that moment to open his cursed mouth.

 

Surprisingly, he didn’t roll his eyes. His hand instead went and pinched Joshua’s neck. He hushed any retort or squawking by running a soothing touch over the irritated red spot. Rubbing gently, the writer let himself roam, leaning to allow himself to travel across Joshua’s body, down his chest, his hip, grazing across his groin before settling on rubbing his leg. “You’re demanding.” He curved his hand around the other’s thigh and squeezed with none of the reserved gentleness he’d been using beforehand. “It’s rude. Maybe one day I’ll see it as charming,” Chris snarked. “But like the doctor said, nothing demanding.” The pressure increased, green eyes narrowing as a slow smirk pulled his lips back, canines almost bared in the way his teeth showed. “And as long as you’re around me, and the means are there, I intend to make sure that’s reinforced, big boy. Can’t get you too excited, who knows what’ll agitate your frail body.” Releasing his grip, he gave the man’s thigh a soothing rub then pat. “Exciting, right?”

[-Hideki-]

His eyebrows were raised when Chris spoke up after he had told him what he thought about the brunette thinking that he shouldn’t meet his friend because it wouldn’t go over well. Frankly, when the other expressed that his best friend was just protective it sounded like the journalist being protective of his friend making the blond candidate for mayor snort. At least the other man added to that remark, explaining himself further. Heck, he didn’t have to tell him that things changed when one got protective. Joshua was a man who got protective himself. Not only was he protective of his friends he got even more protective when he was in a relationship. He had been extremely protective over Ilay, he also had felt protective over Foxy while in the end it had been the red head who had protected him most of the time, although he’d never admit that to himself in a thousand years and Wei?enburg was protective about his family too. Always had protected his little sister and he had started to get ridiculously protective over Nisha, especially after he had learned that the woman had a higher risk of becoming a victim of murder and violence. He even got in major fights with his biological mother to protect Nisha from her insulting, belittling remarks. So yes, he was protective and he got what that implied but he also didn’t like some other bloke being protective over his boyfriend. “You can tell him that he doesn’t need to protect you anymore, because I will from now on. And I will be a thousand times better at it than him too, believe me.” He declared, arms crossed in front of his chest, being absolutely determined.

 

It was almost hilarious when the other now said it wasn’t a big deal and he had not wanted to make it seem like it was. “Maybe don’t make one out of it by acting weird and suddenly telling me that you wouldn’t want me to meet your friend after also telling me that you had a crush on that bloke for a long time then.” he stated. “How am I supposed to take that?” Josh wanted to know and sighed, laying his head into his neck. “Look, I’m not cool with sharing. I’m competitive and I get jealous.” Wei?enburg told the reporter and at least the two last things the man should be aware of by now. He had seen him in that ice caf? after all and that had just concerned his ex. If he’d be cheated on he’d go and punch the guy who had fucked his man into a bloody pulp and then break up with his partner, not without insulting him and having some form of revenge for that humiliation before and then he’d do everything to prove to himself that it didn’t affect him at all while he’d actually be fucking hurt.

 

There was a smile tugging at his thin lips when the other told him the reason as to why he thought that his friends wouldn’t like him, that it wasn’t that much of an issue but that he had hoped that their circle of friends would coalesce and he’d get to love and trust the people that he loved and trusted. It was sweet. “Wouldn’t you have said that mine and your personalities are mismatched too?” he then asked, because he still didn’t think that his friends would reject the other man and that they couldn’t all hang out and have a fun barbecue together or whatever. The notion that his friends might find him odd and strange was funny to him too. “You had the honour with Jiles before right? That perverted libertarian is one of my oldest friends. Does he seem like the definition of normality to you? Or like someone who watches his mouth?” he wanted to know. In the end Joshua himself was, well, not exactly the definition of diplomacy either. He was more like, telling it how he saw it without running it through a filter first.

 

He couldn’t help but to grin up into Chris’s face widely and brightly when the other listed all of the stuff that was bigger and better about him. That was certainly something he liked to hear even if it was just the other repeating his bragging, stating that he’d win all the awards, while having his nose pinched. It was most certainly true that he had a competitive spirit and that life was like a game to him that he was determined to win. Joshua had found himself at the bottom of the food-chain as a child and he had worked himself all the way up. When he had come back home from school and had seen a bullet stuck in their kitchen window of the apartment from a shooting that had taken place outside in front of their door, when he had laid in his bed at night with three blankets and his jacket on and had tried to distract himself from the sirens, the shouting and the sound of guns outside by focussing on the drops of water that had fallen from the ceiling of his room, he had sworn himself to get out of the ghetto, he had never wanted to feel like this again, never wanted to be a loser again in his life and he had made it. Worked his arse off to get where he was now and he was not only damn proud of that, he wanted everyone to see it. To know whom they were messing with, what status he had, that he was a winner, that he’d not be trampled on anymore and this was the main reason as to why he was a show-off, a bragger. It was easy for some happy-go-lucky child to sit there and be like ‘What is it with that man? We all know he’s rich by now.’ pointing at people like Devon Ashfield, comparing them and saying that the governor from the south didn’t have to emphasis and show-off his wealth all the time but neither of them had started out where he had. Devon Ashfield was the son of a billionaire, he didn’t have to do much or build much anything himself to be where he was, he had been born into the elite circles. Joshua however had had to do everything himself, he had fought, fought with all he got although he had come from nothing.

 

Amusement was written all over his face, at the comment that he shall keep his mouth shut to not get all the soapy water inside and when the other then claimed to have self-control whilst swatting and rubbing his leg. “You do?” he asked cockily. “I didn’t know someone breaking into your property and getting aroused while recording you having sex was what is defined as ‘having self-control’ nowadays.” Joshua remarked with a laugh that didn’t die when the other man said he’d be more focussed on being an unbiased cheerleader. “Is being unbiased and cheerleader not a little contradictory?” the blond man found. “You got to root for one team and that’s mine of course.” Wei?enburg stated, nudging his head against Chris’s abdomen.

 

Joshua found himself a little surprised at the coy reaction of the other man after he had told him how he had strained his back and that the other, regardless of being almost a decade younger, couldn’t have handled that as if it was nothing either. This was the man who had actually gotten a boner watching and recording him fucking the very policeman he had now been speaking of, who was going from pale to red in a matter of seconds and was laughing nervously like a schoolgirl. Then the other seemed to finally have found his speech back, telling him that he didn’t think he’d ever find himself in a situation to ever do that kind of heavy lifting and it made Josh fling him a grin, one side of his mouth tugged up. He really couldn’t picture Christopher doing that either. Then again he couldn’t picture him fucking anyone for that matter and he didn’t want to picture him being fucked by someone else than himself. It seemed though that the brunette had to bring up the doctor again, pointing out that the man had said he should but that he was certain Joshua had not taken it slow and had no plans on doing it either. “I might not have been taking it slow. Maybe that’s the reason I have issues again now. But… to be fair… I don’t even know how I am supposed to take it slow. I have no time for that shit. I have a campaign and a business to run.” He admitted.

 

Not thinking that he had done anything wrong or offensive he was opening his eyes wide and wanted to complain, loudly, when his neck was pinched in a way that it felt bad, was almost hurting, when the irritated skin was rubbed soothingly by the other. However Joshua was on alert now and he was not relaxing any longer and he was only gradually losing tension when he felt the man’s hand roam over his chest and down his groin, making his body respond, wanting to feel those hands slightly further down. Instead Christopher told him that he was demanding, abusing his thigh. He liked a lot of strength used during a massage but he couldn’t help the feeling that the other just wanted to cause him discomfort by now, making him frown when he was told that he was rude and grinned at with what almost seemed like sadistic glee. Wei?enburg sat up and pulled his legs away from the other then. It wasn’t the first time that he had been called rude. Especially since he was campaigning he was called offensive and rude in a continuous loop. And while he didn’t give a rat’s ass about that – what one could have understood as prove of his rudeness – he hadn’t meant to come across as rude and set the other off by his blunt and doubtlessly demanding attitude that he generally had right now. “I didn’t mean to be rude or to piss you off.” He said, sighing.

 

But he apparently had done it and kind off killed the mood because Christopher was somehow speaking as if he wanted to sink him in a river when he told him that he’d make sure the doctor’s advice was reinforced and that he couldn’t get him excited as it might be too much for his frail body. That whole situation had gone from pleasant to exhausting pretty soon and he rolled his blue eyes, scratching his chin. He couldn’t do more than to say that he hadn’t wanted to be rude, could he? “I see.” He said and turned towards the other man, blue meeting green, while the pale hand with the long fingers was running up from the other man’s knee, over his thigh to grab the other’s dick that was hidden under the fabric of the sweat-pants, his palm rubbing over it. “There are two things we can do now! You get over my bluntness and we don’t have to do any acrobatics. We could just get it on and drawn in pleasure sucking each other dry, like we did in this dream I had after I fell asleep reading one of those stories you write, until my sister ruined it for our dream-selves because she called to yell at me,” he whispered into his ear, his tongue licking it, hand still stimulating his dick, before he retreated completely, taking his hand away from the man’s cock and turning to face the turned off TV, „or, you smear my back with herbal-balm, wrap my ‘frail body’ into cotton wool while we drink sage tea and watch old people’s shows on television. “ Wei?enburg grinned. If they were pretending that he was a senior citizen then they might as well do it properly. “Your decision honey-pie.”