A's Request 2007
a Queer as Folk story
by tarotgal
It was growing late, and both of them felt the hour weigh upon them. Michael had closed up the shop hours before, and the little food remaining in the Chinese take out boxes had grown cold. "I'b still dot really feelig this latest villaid," Michael said, shaking his head at the newest batch of illustrations. His eyes were growing tired, and the sketches blurred before his eyes for a moment until he blinked and they came back into focus.
"Maybe it's her size," Justin suggested, cocking his head. The evil lawyer who wore a power suit and liked kidnapping and devouring young children towered over the buildings of Gayopolis.
Michael shook his head and reached for a tissue from the box he'd plunked down on the table earlier that evening. "It's the story," he said. "It's shit." He cupped the tissue to his nose. "hehh-IHshhhh!" The sneeze bounced him in his chair.
"It's not shit," Justin said. "It's just not that good." He smirked and Michael rolled his eyes. "Maybe we should call it a night."
Michael gave a nod, pushed back from the table, and bent over with another sneeze. "IhhhhhShuhh!"
"Besides," Justin said, rising and slowly pulling on his black pea coat. "You sound awful." He took his scarf from the back of the chair and began winding it around his neck, but paused. Quickly he made a grab for the tissues as well, but brought the back of his hand up to his face in the meantime. "Eh'Choo! Sniff!"
"You dod't soud so good, yourself," Michael observed. They both rubbed their noses then tossed balled-up tissues onto the table where there was a large collection of discards already.
Justin nodded and pulled on his gloves after securing his scarf. "It's just a little cold, but knowing Brian, he'll probably have me sleeping on the couch while he fucks someone else in bed." Hardly the happy little household Justin hoped for.
"I'd idvite you to cub hobe with be," Michael said, "but I have a feelig I'll be sleepig od the couch as well." In fact, one of the reasons he'd suggested working at his store tonight was to stay out of the apartment as long as possible. Michael cleaned up, double-checked that he'd shut down the cash register, and locked up the back of the counter where the most valuable comics were kept on display. Then he shrugged on his coat and followed Justin out into snowy Pittsburgh.
Michael scrubbed his hands under the hot running water in the kitchen sink as a sleepy Hunter headed over to him. Michael looked over his shoulder. "I'b sorry, did I wake you?"
Shuffling over to the fridge, wearing nothing but underwear, Hunter nodded. He rooted around and took out a carton of orange juice. He took a swig from the carton, then wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and offered the juice to Michael.
As thirsty as Michael felt, he still got a glass out of the cupboard. He poured a bit for himself but only swallowed a gulp before he was forced to cup his hands over his nose and mouth. "ihhhSchhhhh! Ihhh-ihhh-HIHShhhhh! Scuse be." He sniffed and started washing his hands again.
"Caught a cold, did ya?" Hunter asked, leaning against the counter and yawning.
Michael nodded. "I thik I'll be sleebig od the couch todight. You bight wadt to close your door so I dod't keeb you ub. Sniff! Sniff!" He continued sniffing as he dried his hands off and then downed the rest of his juice.
"What, are you paranoid Ben and I are going to keel over and die if you sneeze near us?"
Michael felt his face go just a little red and was glad the only light on in the apartment was over the sink behind him.
Hunter sighed. "Ben!" he shouted. "Ben, c'mere!"
"Hey wait! Don't wake-"
Ben didn't seem to have been asleep, however. He emerged from the bedroom looking alert but concerned, with a pen in his mouth and a pad of paper in his hand. "What's wrong?" he asked at once.
"Dothig," Michael said, shaking his head.
Ben looked from Michael to Hunter, who was trying not to laugh, and then back to Michael. Ben chuckled. "Dothig? Doesn't sound like dothig. Sounds like that sniffle from this morning turned into a full-blown cold."
Michael shrugged and nodded. "Just a little ode."
Ben tilted his head towards the bedroom. "Go lie down, Michael. And no, you're sleeping in our bed, not on the couch." He smiled as Michael looked slightly surprised. He knew Michael too well not to be able to read his mind. "It's all right. I'll take the couch when it's time to sleep." He set the pen and paper down and walked over, taking Hunter by the shoulders to give him a little push. "Back to bed with you, too. You have school in the morning." Then he put an arm around Michael, who protested slightly until he found himself cuddled against Ben's chest.
With a sigh, Michael closed his eyes and let the affection wash over him. "I dod't want-"
"I know." Ben squeezed him tightly. "We'll be fine. We'll all be fine. Now let me go tuck you into bed, Michael."
"hehhh-Ihphsh!"
"With a box of tissues." He touched his hand to Michael's forehead. "And some water. Maybe a cool compress. And an extra pillow."
"A sweet husband's all I need," Michael said, heading to the bedroom. He held his hand to his face again. "ihhh-IHKshhhh! IhhShh! Sniff! Maybe those tissues, as well."
Ben chuckled and wrapped his arms around Michael from behind.
Justin slid the door to Brian's loft closed, wincing at how loud the sound was. His head was throbbing, but the real reason was not wanting to alert Brian to his presence until the last possible moment. He stripped off his winter gear as he crossed the living room, and stripped off the rest of his clothes as he crossed the bedroom to the bed.
He was glad, but not surprised, to find it empty. It wasn't that late yet, after all. Brian was probably still out at Babylon. He'd probably come back in a few hours, sated and sleepy, smelling of smoke and spirits… not that he'd be able to smell much. Feeling chilly, Justin pulled on clean socks, sweatpants, and a white undershirt. Then he climbed into bed. Even without Brian there, Justin found himself relaxing into comfort. He pulled a pillow close and hugged it as he rested his head on it. "ehhh…" His nose tickled. "ehhh-Chuhh! ehhChoo!" He nuzzled into the pillow and closed his eyes. It wasn't long before sleep took him.
Nor was it long before Brian came home. Justin woke at the sound of the door. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep and wanting to fall back to sleep anyway. He heard the footsteps, the sound of shoes being kicked off, and felt the bed sag beside him. Justin concentrated on not sneezing. If he slowed down his breathing and pretended to be well and asleep, Brian wouldn't kick him to the couch.
"What's this?" Brian murmured, his fingers rushing over Justin's clothes. "This your idea of exciting lingerie?" he chuckled. Justin did not react. "Justin?" A hand cupped his groin, and lips brushed his forehead. "Hey, Justin?" Justin had to use every bit of his self control not to react. Luckily, the cold had zapped his strength and his cock stayed soft and limp even as Brian rubbed him. After a few moments, Brian sighed deeply and pulled back. "Fine." Brian pulled the covers up over them both and fell asleep with his arm draped over Justin's waist. Smiling to himself, Justin let himself sleep as well.
Justin woke to find Brian's hands gripping his shirt, shaking him. There was no way he could fake sleep now. The digital clock read 3:27. Justin blinked at it, frowning. "What, Brian?" he mumbled. The words made his nose buzz with tickles. He sniffed them back. "sniffsniff!"
"You were snoring." Brian said it like an insult. He added, "Loudly."
"Sniff! S-sorry. Sniff! Sniff!" The sniffing wasn't doing enough. He felt the sneeze build, and he turned his head, lifting his arm to sneeze into his sleeve. "ehhhhKShooo! H'Shoo! Sniff! Sniff!"
"Are you sick?" Brian asked, staring critically.
In the dead of winter, Justin didn't think the allergy excuse would hold up to Brian's usual scrutiny. "Just a little head cold," Justin said, trying to make it sound casual and incredibly unimportant.
"Oh," said Brian, adopting the same attitude. "So you've got a cold, have you?"
Justin nodded and sniffed. "Sniff! Sniff!" The sneeze had made his nose run. "Sniffsniff!"
"Go," said Brian, nudging Justin. "Get up."
"Sniff! Brian…"
But Brian shook his head to show he meant it. "If you think I want to lie here in bed listening to you sniffle in my ear all night long, you're sorely mistaken. So go." He pushed a little this time.
Reluctantly, Justin rolled out of bed. Standing right beside the bed, Justin hesitated to move. All he wanted to do was climb right back in under the covers with Brian again. "Sniffsniffsniffsniff… Sniff!" He glanced at Brian's expensive and uncomfortable couch. When he looked back, Brian's eyes were already closed. "Sniff! Sniff!" Justin rubbed the back of his hand at his nose.
"Go blow your nose already for God's sake," Brian said, waving his hand to shoo Justin away and then letting his arm fall tiredly back onto the bed. Brian shivered and inched over a little onto the warm spot where Justin's body had been. "And hurry back. It's fucking freezing tonight."
Disclaimer: The Queer as Folk boys are not mine. I'm just playing and make no money.
Notes: Written for ~A. I'm indecisive and couldn't decide who should be sick. Sorry ;-)