CHAPTER 35 #2
He shoved Ricky onto the mattress, which made it easier to get his jeans and underwear off the rest of the way. Ricky scrambled deeper into the bed and turned, his bottom lip trapped beneath a tooth.
“Listen up,” Diego said while removing his own shirt. He flexed as much as possible while doing so, which guaranteed his boyfriend’s full attention. “You know I hate fake people, right?”
Ricky nodded rapidly. “Uh-huh.”
“Especially the people I date.” He stopped with his hands on the buckle of his belt. “If you’re not into something, don’t pretend you are to please me.”
“I’m into it!” Ricky assured him.
“I know you are,” Diego said, nodding at his arousal.
“And I know you like this.” He undid his jeans and pulled them down.
“But I mean always. No matter what we’re doing.
Look at me.” Ricky’s eyes met his. “Don’t do something you don’t like just to make me happy.
Because that wouldn’t make me happy. Understand? ”
“Yeah,” Ricky said, his gaze softening. “Are you okay?”
“Never better. Now promise me.”
“I promise.” Ricky’s expression grew somber. “Do you promise?”
Diego hadn’t even thought of that side of things. He’d been too worried about how Ricky felt. But it was a welcome suggestion, because it freed him from obligation. He’d never have to perform, just to make his boyfriend happy. Whatever they had together would stay real. “Yeah. I promise.”
Diego kicked off his jeans. Then he crawled into bed and let the love flow.
— — —
A mighty river split in two, powerful rapids surging around land that contained farmland, groves, and a village before the twin streams merged again.
Only a single bridge made it possible to cross the water.
That’s where Ricky and his fellow players stood, confronting a pair of trolls who wouldn’t let them pass.
“Nobody gets in,” Galen said in a deep voice with a touch of Cockney. “Nobody gets out.”
“Our mission demands that we must!” Cameron declared heroically. “I am Cedric Proudheart. My friends and I have taken a vow to free this land from Duke Ravenblood. To do so, we must gather the sacred weapons of Bahamut, one of which is in that village.”
“The trolls rub their chins while peering at each other,” Galen narrated before slipping into the deep voice again. “Wots this here weapon look like exactly?”
“They’re golden,” Ricky said, moving the pewter figurine of his character, Zazzle Lightweaver, closer to Cedric.
“Golden, eh?” one of the trolls said. “I believe we’ve got that handy.”
From behind his dungeon-master screen, Galen revealed more pewter figurines, setting them up along the bank.
“The troll sticks his dirty fingers into his mouth and whistles. From under the bridge, three more trolls appear. One of them is wearing the torn and bloodied robes of a wizard, but they’re much too small to fit him properly.
That troll is carrying a golden staff, which he points at your party, a fireball forming at the tip. ”
Whitney gasped. David glared. Mindy peered intently at her character sheet. Suddenly they were locked in combat.
“I’ll take the wanna-be wizard!” Ricky cried.
They each chose an opponent. The battle got off to a bad start as they exchanged blows with the enemy.
After two rounds, it was clear their characters would be pulverized.
Cameron was the one who figured out the winning strategy.
He disengaged from his troll to attack the one Whitney was facing.
David noticed and did the same. Together they slew that troll, taking damage in the process, but this enabled them to gang up on the next.
Ricky did his best to hold the much more powerful wizard troll at bay.
The cost of this tactic was dire indeed. Zazzle was on the verge of death.
“The wizard troll points his staff at you again,” Galen said, “this time lightning crackling around the tip of the staff.”
“Oh no!” Zazzle moaned.
Cedric plowed into him, knocking him out of the way, just as the bolt was unleashed. His armor sparked with electricity, but he was strong and remained standing. Zazzle looked up to see his fellow adventurers converging on him protectively.
Cedric leveled his sword at the wizard troll. “This could have ended peacefully, foul vermin, but you’ve revealed the dark shade of your soul. Now I will expose it to the light!”
And with that, he shoved the flaming blade into the troll’s chest, ending its life. Cedric pulled his sword free and rushed to Zazzle’s side, his warrior hands gentle as they cupped his face and moved down to his heart, a healing warmth spreading throughout his body.
“Thank you,” Ricky croaked.
“You’re welcome,” Cameron replied with a satisfied smile.
“I pick up the golden staff and bring it to Zazzle,” Mindy said.
Allura Honeykeep knelt next to him. “This belongs to you, noble wizard.”
Zazzle took hold of the staff, using it like a cane to regain his feet. Magical power surged through him. After taking stock of themselves, they crossed the bridge into the village, which appeared to be deserted.
“Where is everyone?” Blinky Nimble asked.
Whitney nudged David.
“Never mind that,” Celestia Moonbeam said while pointing. “Look!”
In the town square stood a statue. It looked just like Cedric.
“This reminds me of when we found you,” Zazzle murmured. “I don’t suppose you have a twin brother.”
Cedric shook his head. “I am an only child. Of that I have no doubt.”
“Maybe it really is just a statue this time,” Blinky said while rapping on it with his knuckles.
“Mayhap indeed,” Galen said. “As your group stands there staring up at the statue, shuttered windows and locked doors begin to open. A child breaks free from one of the cottages, running over to your group. ‘It’s him!’ the little boy cries. ‘The hero of legend!’”
Cedric picked up the little boy, supporting him in his strong arms while peering at him curiously. “What is this legend you speak of, young lad?”
“You!” The little boy pointed at the statue. “You’re him!”
An old man hobbled over, with more villagers following cautiously behind.
“We thank you for the service you’ve rendered,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Dark magic allowed a band of trolls to sabotage our village’s wizard, and we’ve been their hostages ever since.
” The old man shuffled near enough to see them clearly, a stunned expression overtaking him.
“By the stars! You are him. The prophecy has been fulfilled. You’ve finally come home! ”
“Home?” Cedric said.
“Why, yes! Your ancestral home. The boy you hold in your arms is your great-grandson!”
And so the story unfolded. Cameron’s character hadn’t been forgotten, despite being stuck as a statue for over a century.
His children and their descendants had kept his memory alive, awaiting the day when he would return to protect them once again.
A feast was held in his honor, which became a celebration that lasted long into the night.
Zazzle participated in these events, his heart growing increasingly heavy until he could take it no longer. He pulled Cedric aside and walked with him to the very edge of the firelight.
“You’re leaving us, aren’t you?” he said.
Cedric took a deep breath. Then he nodded. “I must.”
“But I love you!” Zazzle blurted out. He shook his head, feeling foolish. “I’m in love with you. I shouldn’t be. But I am.”
Cedric’s mouth opened in surprise, his chest heaving as if he wanted to say something in return. But he only shook his head. “I can’t stay. For anyone.”
“I understand,” Zazzle said with a swallow. “I just needed you to know.”
Ricky wiped the tears from his eyes, embarrassed when he found himself in the basement of a suburban home. David and Galen were both averting their gaze. Whitney and Mindy looked like they wanted to melt. As for Cameron, he picked up the miniature figurine of a paladin and handed it to Ricky.
“I’ll always be with you,” he said. “Just like how you’ll always be with me.” His eyes brimmed with emotion before he blinked, looked at the others, and smiled. “That goes for all of you,” he said, although without the same intensity. “I’m going to miss this.”
“You will be missed as well,” Galen said. “We’ll leave it there for now. Thank you, everyone, for coming to this emergency session on such short notice.”
“That was so fun!” Whitney said before slumping. “And sad.”
“Do I have to turn in my character sheet?” Cameron asked.
Galen shook his head. “Keep it. Who knows. Maybe we’ll all be lucky enough to meet Cedric again someday.”
They hung out a little longer, but it was a school night, so they soon had to go their separate ways. Ricky brought Mindy home first. He watched glumly as she hugged Cameron and said goodbye, which felt like practice for what was about to come.
The silence was thick between them on the ride to Cameron’s house. He parked out front, along the street.
“I’m glad we had that,” Ricky croaked. “Our time together as Zazzle and Cedric. I just wish…” The words got caught in his throat. He wiped at his eyes, embarrassed to be crying again.
“Hey,” Cameron said softly.
Ricky looked at him.
Cameron shifted, placing a warm palm against his cheek, just like Cedric would have done. “If only magic was real.”
Ricky nuzzled his calloused hand. “I’ll be okay.”
“I should hope so.” Cameron pulled away. “I mean, you’ve got the ghost of Ironwood Assbreaker looking after you.”
Ricky laughed before his expression grew somber. “I really do love him.”
“Of course,” Cameron said reassuringly. “One doesn’t cancel out the other. I know that for a fact.”
Did that mean he felt the same way?
Cameron leaned close… but only to peer at the dashboard. “How many miles does this thing have on it?” he said before whistling in appreciation.
“Is that a lot?” Ricky asked while checking the odometer.
“I’m not sure,” Cameron replied. “Think you can make it up to Maine and back?”
“Probably! During the summer, maybe? I’d have to get insurance. And a job. But I will. I’ll come see you!”
“Good. Something for me to look forward to.” Cameron’s eyes searched his before he finally leaned away. “You can bring Diego with you.”
“Yeah. Of course!” Ricky’s heart was racing. “I bet Anthony will want to come too.”
Cameron smiled, but with a tinge of sorrow. “I’ll see you at school,” he said when reaching for the door.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
Ricky watched him walk to the house, wishing there really was another world where they could be together. One where they never had to part.