Everything in Brian’s world stopped. A bomb could have gone off outside and he wouldn’t have noticed. All he could think about, all he could feel, was the warm body in his lap, and those delicious lips pressed against his own. He wrapped his arms around AJ and poured himself into the kiss.
When they pulled apart, both of them were smiling.
“Hello, Brian.”
“Hello, Alex.”
They chuckled a little. Neither moved, simply enjoying the closeness. Joy was radiating through Brian. “You’re early. I was going to come pick you up in a few hours.” he said. His brain wouldn’t work, wouldn’t focus on anything beyond the fact that AJ was here with him, in his arms.
“Yeah, well, I wanted to surprise you. I got an earlier flight, and took a cab over. You still haven’t changed your codes, you know. And the front door was unlocked.” AJ said, still grinning. He leaned in and gave Brian a quick kiss.
For just a minute Brian looked at him. He looked so much healthier than he had for a long time. There was color back into his cheeks, and though he was still skinny, he’d lost that gaunt look. He was starting to fill back out in some spots. He was still feather light on Brian’s lap, though. They’d have to work on getting him back up to a healthy size.
AJ brought a hand up, stroking the back of it down Brian’s cheek. “Penny for your thoughts.”
In an effort to bring himself back to reality, Brian gave his head a quick shake. Then he smiled at AJ. “Just thinking how much skinner you got. We’ll have to get you eating to put you back at a normal weight.”
From anyone else the comment probably would have annoyed AJ. But it was Brian who was saying it, and because of that, he found himself grinning. “Oh trust me, I eat a lot. You’ll probably have to go shopping within a day of me being here. Seems like I’m always hungry anymore. Doc said I was way too skinny anyways, so this’ll be a chance to fatten me up.”
One of Brian’s hands slid up AJ’s back, feeling the muscles underneath the shirt. His eyes were dark when he looked at AJ. “You feel fine to me.”
“You don’t feel too bad yourself, Bri.” To add emphasis AJ leaned in and nipped at Brian’s lip. They stared at one another, basking in each other’s company. Both amazed that they were there at all. Neither had thought they ever would be, and yet now that they were there, it was so right, so perfect. AJ found himself saying those three words that he had sworn never to say to another person with this kind of meaning behind it. “I love you, Brian Thomas.”
“I love you too, Alexander James. More than I knew was possible.”
AJ took a shaky breath, and laid his head on Brian’s shoulder. Hearing Brian say those words to him affected him in a way he hadn’t known. He felt happy and relieved, dizzy and ecstatic. So many emotions rolled in to one. “What do we do now?”
There was a silent pause in which he moved to look at Brian’s face. Then he saw that Brian was smiling. “I think I’ve got an idea, J.” he said mischievously. Quietly he stood, keeping AJ in his arms, and moved to the living room. He knew just the thing to set them both at ease, and let them have a good time.
….
“You always get that part!” Brian cried, crossing his arms and pouting. “It’s my turn, dang it!”
AJ let out a long suffering sigh. “Fine, be that way…” he agreed, just as the music started on the screen. Now it was Brian’s turn to grin, and AJ’s turn to pout. He sank back on the couch with his arms crossed over his chest. Brian raised his remote as his mic and started to sing along with one of their favorite movies. Aladdin.
“I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid. Tell me, princess, now when did you last let your heart decide? I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder. Over, sideways and under on a magic carpet ride. A whole new world. A new fantastic point of view. No one to tell us no or where to go or say we’re only dreaming.”
Despite his annoyed act, when it came his turn, AJ picked up his own remote and sang his heart out for Jasmine’s lines.
“A whole new world. A dazzling place I never knew. But when I’m way up here it’s crystal clear that now I’m in a whole new world with you.”
“Now I’m in a whole new world with you..”
“Unbelievable sights. Indescribable feeling. Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky. A whole new world!”
“Don’t you dare close your eyes!”
“A hundred thousand things to see...”
“Hold your breath – it gets better.”
“I’m like a shooting star, I’ve come so far. I can’t go back to where I used to be.” AJ was getting into it, standing up as he sang.
“A whole new world,” Brian sang, grinning at AJ.
“Every turn a surprise.”
“With new horizons to pursue.”
“Every moment gets better.”
They held their mics together, twining their wrists around one another as they sang the duet portion. “I’ll chase them anywhere, there’s time to spare. Let me share this whole new world with you.”
Unable to contain it, the two collapsed on the couch, giggling, before the song was even done. By the time they were able to control themselves, the song was over. “Oh God, cracks me up every time.” AJ said, wiping a tear of laughter away from his eye.
“Doesn’t it, though? I love this movie.” Brian grabbed a handful of popcorn and started to toss some in the air, catching them in his mouth.
AJ, with a mouth full of popcorn, slapped Brian’s arm and then moved to the other side of the couch. With a grin, Brian moved to his end. He knew exactly what AJ wanted to do. He waited for AJ to finish chewing, then picked up a piece of popcorn and took aim. He sunk it straight into AJ’s mouth. “Woo!” he shouted, throwing his arms up. AJ clapped and chewed, then opened his mouth again.
Just as Brian started to throw the piece, his front door burst open and his living room was suddenly filled with people. Because of that, his aim was way off, and AJ’s head was turned .The popcorn piece landed right in his eye, scaring the daylights out of him. He jumped so bad that Brian couldn’t help but laugh. He laughed so hard he almost rolled off the couch.
AJ ignored the others who had come. He moved over and shoved Brian off the couch, down to the floor. “That was my damn eye!” he complained, but Brian was too busy laughing.
“Well.” Howie’s voice chimed up. He was smiling at the both of them. “Good to see that some things are normal.”