This is something new for me. I haven't written a lot other than for school. If you like it let me know. If you don't, that's okay, too. In the mean time if you're eighteen or older you can stay. If you're not, well, you know. Mommy and Daddy should get a better net nanny.
Brady York A.K.A. Yorktown!
bradysyorktown@hotmail.com
Superheroes: Part one
"I am not wearing tights, Dino."
Dennis 'Dino' Munns balled up his fists and growled low in his throat. His tanned skin turned red and he clinched his eyes shut. "Bastian, you promised. They can't get a new super hero by tomorrow!" He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and flashed his ice gray/blue eyes at his best friend of twelve years. "Don't dick around with me, okay?"
"You didn't say anything about tights, Dino. Purple tights, Jesus." Bastian Kendall held up the offending pair of garments and raised one eyebrow at Dino. "It's embarrassing." His 6' frame carried fatless 200 pounds with the grace of a jaguar, and his longish medium blond hair hung loose, parted in the middle. He chuckled and dropped the tights on his bed.
He looked up at Dino with his green eyes and shook his head. "Uh uh."
Dino was built smaller than Bastian, and came in at 5'8". He sprang up onto Bastian's bed and grabbed the front of his faded t-shirt. "Dammit, Bastian, you can't do this! My mom has put a month into this, and I am not gonna let you screw it up for her! Please tell me you're not that much of a prick."
Bastian wrapped one arm around Dino's waste and effortlessly lifted him off the bed. "Dude, it's snowing outside. I don't want my bed wet, okay?" He set Dino on the floor and straightened his shirt. "Why is it so important to embarrass the shit out of me?"
"You spent most of the summer in a speedo at Carry Wheeler's pool, Bastian.
You might as well have been naked. Now you're getting embarrassed because you have another opportunity to show off your perfect body? The same body you work out on with those damn weights every day? Help me out here." Dino threw his arms up in frustration. "The kids aren't looking at you in purple tights, they're seeing Captain Saturn."
"Do you have to wear tights?" Bastian's eyebrows knotted together, and he picked up the purple suit again.
"My costume is exactly like yours but blue. If you want, I'll put mine on and show it to you, and you can try yours on, okay?" Bastian nodded, and Dino rummaged through the bags he'd brought with him. "Here's your cape and mask, and here's mine. See? They're identical." He lifted up his blue tights for Bastian to see. "They're not really tights, they're spandex."
"A silver cape. Where did Roxy find chrome material?" Bastian held up his cape and inspected and then looked down at the other items. "What's the chrome underwear for?"
"I'll show you." Dino caught the door with his foot and closed it and started to undress. They had seen each other naked a hundred times, and there was never any self-consciousness. He stripped naked and started pulling the body suit on.
"I can't wear underwear?" Bastian asked, looking irritable.
"You can, but it looks like shit." Dino slid the suit up around his waist and jumped a couple of times to get it to stretch over his shoulder. "That's what the silver shorts are for." He finished with the other shoulder and turned his back towards Bastian. "Do up the zipper, would you?"
Bastian reached out and pulled up the zipper and stepped back, eyeing Dino critically. Dino raised his arms and turned in a circle once. "See, it makes you look even more buff than you already are." Dino said, running his hand over his stomach.
Bastian nodded and pulled his t-shirt off. The truth was that if Dino had asked him to run down Main Street naked he would have. He just wouldn't like it anymore than he liked dressing up in a purple suit. He undid his pants and slid them and his briefs down at one time. He just wanted Dino to know he didn't like it, that's all.
Dino pulled on what looked like chrome briefs but with no fly and slid on the boots which were back country snow boots that covered the calves and were painted silver. As he tied the cape at his neck, he looked up and noticed Bastian trying to get the suit up on his extremely muscular legs. "Need help?"
"Uh, I think my legs are too big." Bastian mumbled. He blushed when Dino moved around the bed and got behind him and began to tug upward on the suit.
It was working, but it was embarrassing.
"Pull the front up." Dino instructed and reached from behind to lift the suit up. In the process he brushed the tip of Bastian's cock with the back of his hand. "Sorry."
"I can get it." Bastian said quietly and stepped forward. He was having a hard time controlling a physical reaction that had started when Dino had stripped. Bastian's deepest darkest secret was the level of feeling and caring he had for Dino, and he'd kept it buried and safe for years. To Dino and the world he was a moody jock, and he wanted to keep it that way. He tried to get the arms up to his shoulders, but Dino had to help again, and the feel of the smooth fabric against his crotch was hard to take.
"There." Dino reached up and zipped it up for him. "Man, Bastian, you ought to wear that over to Angie Berman's. Then she'd really notice you." He couldn't help but notice that Bastian had gotten a little swollen in the manhood department and politely didn't notice.
"Fuck Angie Berman." Bastian muttered. "She's nasty." He pulled on the silver shorts, relieved that they sort of hid his semi. After pulling on the boots, he tied the cape around his neck. Dino handed him a dark purple mask and put his blue one on. Bastian stepped in front of his full mirror behind the door and looked himself over. Dino stepped behind him, and almost at the same time, they put their fists on their hips.
They busted out laughing. "Bastian, you look so fucking cool. I think Captain Saturn is my new favorite super hero." Dino said and reached up to adjust Bastian's cape, and then leaned his head on his shoulder. "I owe you for this, man. Anything, just ask."
"Dude, look at the definition. No wonder Superman wore these." Bastian smiled and rubbed his stomach, but was looking at Dino's reflection. He sighed and turned away from the mirror. "So what time does this all start?"
He let the jock persona slide back into place and pulled the mask off.
"Mom will pick us up from school at nine thirty." Dino kicked off his boots and untied the cape.
"What's the use of going for one hour?" Bastian laid his cape on the bed and reached behind his neck for the zipper. "If we're off the rest of the day, why not sleep in?"
"Did you get your assignments?" Dino asked. He had taken it up as his personal responsibility to see Bastian finish school, despite the indifference of his father. He dad drove a truck and was gone ninety percent of the time. Bastian shopped for groceries, paid the bills, and with an occasional prod from Dino kept the house clean.
"Did you tell me to?" Bastian slid the spandex suit off and scratched his legs. "Yes, mother, I did."
"Don't be pissy, I was just asking." Dino tossed his suit on the bed and reached for his sport briefs. "Are you coming for pizza? Mom said not to take no for an answer."
Bastian shook his head and pulled on his underwear. "I was gonna chill on the couch and watch the tube. Wanna stay over and play PS 2?" He kept his eyes off of Dino's body with an act of will. Sometime over the last year, he'd suddenly started noticing Dino, and even fantasizing about him, and it shamed him. He didn't want to be like that, but he couldn't help it.
"I'll ask. I'll tell mom I'm dealing with your stage fright." Dino finished dressing and grabbed his book bag off the floor. "Get your homework done, and I'll be back in an hour or so." Dino waved and walked out the door.
"Yeah, dude, I will." Bastian watched out the window as Dino got in his car and fell back on his bed and blew his breath out through puffed cheeks. He looked over at his torn and threadbare jeans and decided it was too much effort to put them back on. Instead, he sat up and took a pair of sweats out of the dresser and pulled them on.
His mind replayed over and over the sight of Dino's slim muscular body with no clothes on. He closed his eyes and pressed his fists into his eye sockets, trying to think of anything else and failing miserably. He knew his feelings were not right, and it tore him up inside.
Dino had rescued him after his mother had died of cancer. They had gone to preschool together, then elementary school, and in the summer of their fourth grade year, Evenly Kendall had gotten sick and died in just a few months.
At the time, Bill Kendall had been working at a company that did short hauls, and he was home at night with Bastian. For years Bastian had suffered his father's anger over his mother's death, and by the time he was twelve, suicide was his every thought.
All through this, Dino, who'd been given his much loved nick name by Bastian's mother, was Bastian's constant companion. They played together, swam together, ate together, and slept over at Dino's house constantly. Hence Dino became the perfect sidekick.
Dino had noticed his friend's deepening depression and had gone to his mother, Roxy Munns, and was nearly in tears because Bastian looked so terrible and was so depressed. Without making it obvious, Bastian sort of ended up being her other son.
Roxy talked with Bill often and helped with dental appointments, clothing purchases, and other items he couldn't get done. Bill, being a person of rare genius, took this as a sign that he could now take longer hauls for more money, and Bastian would be fine with the Munns'. He didn't give a thought to dumping his son on the neighbors for a week at a time.
Bastian clearly remembered the night of his fifteenth birthday, and the no-show by his dad. He tried as hard as he could, but he couldn't stop from crying during the party the Munns' threw for him. Dino had caught him and moved him out of the limelight to get a hold of him self, and he had opened the floodgates on Dino's shoulder.
Dino had just held him without saying a word. No expectations, no blame or guilt. At that moment, a much thinner and more vulnerable Bastian made several decisions without realizing it. The first was that he adored Dino Munns and always would. The second was that he would bury that and all feelings as deep as he could and never be hurt again. The third was that his father would never be what he wanted him to be.
Sounded good, but reality bites hard. As he lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, recalling how he'd almost gotten a hard on in front of his best friend, his mind spun back into that black depression that was only lifted by Dino's presence.
Dino pulled his aging Subaru wagon into the carport and thanked whatever god that was listening for four-wheel drive. Granted, it was only a hundred yards to Bastian's, but the snow was deep and getting deeper. He wished he'd brought the car home instead of stopping first. It would've been easier to walk back. He plugged in the Christmas lights as he went in the house.
"Dino, is that you?" His mother called from the kitchen as he opened the door. Several years ago he had insisted that everyone use his nickname, even his mother.
"Yeah, Mom." He tossed his coat over the chair and headed that way.
"Hang your coat up, dear, and come in here."
He sighed and turned back, hung the coat up, and headed for the kitchen again. "That psychic routine would get you on Leno, Mother." He kissed her cheek and snatched two fresh cookies from the pile she was building.
"Dino, those are for the kids tomorrow!" She waved her hands at him. "Sit down and behave. Did the costumes fit?" She looked up at him with the same intense blue eyes he had.
"It would've been easier to pull teeth than to get him into it." Dino said around a mouth full of cookie. "They fit fine. God, he looks just like the comic book character. It's weird."
"I really appreciate you two doing this. That reading program means a lot to me, and the company donated two hundred comics." Roxy finished scooping dough onto a pan and put it in the oven. "I ordered two large pizzas. Is Bastian coming?"
"Can I take one to his house and stay the night? He's having one of those events again and wants to stay there." Dino grabbed another cookie. "I think it's because of Christmas and all that."
"It's got to be hard on him, Dino. Imagine how he feels."
"I don't have to imagine, Mom, I can see it." He stood up and headed down stairs to his room. His family's house was set up to perfectly suit Dino's tastes. It was a split entry with three bedrooms and two baths upstairs, and a family room, den, bedroom, and full bath downstairs. As ranking child of a total of three, he got the downstairs one.
His room was actually half under the driveway, and the ceiling was eight inch thick concrete. One large window looked out into the backyard, and was currently drifted almost completely with snow. He headed for the bathroom door next to the window and started the shower. This far from the water heater it took a minute to warm up.
His queen-sized bed occupied the middle of the longest wall underneath the driveway side and had two heat vents directly over it that didn't help worth a damn. IN the summer, the concrete kept his room cool even when it was way hot. Winter was a whole different problem.
Between his bed and the window was a computer desk, paid for entirely out of his own money. He worked part time at the library thanks to his mother's influences, and as a result (Hush, hush) of fortune and a CD burner, had all of the software he ever wanted.
The wall directly opposite the window held two large closets side by side. One contained summer stuff, and the other winter stuff. Dino's other passion was clothes, and the closets were close to full.
He stripped and threw his clothes in the hamper and grabbed his robe, an enormous terry cloth thing with a huge collar that could fit two people easily. He loved it. The water was finally hot when he went back into the bathroom.
As he washed, his mind continued to replay Bastian's behavior over the last few months and especially today. Even by Bastian's standards, he was off. If he had a girlfriend or something, Dino could understand, but if he wasn't with Dino, he was alone in that run down house.
Dino didn't have time for girls. Their idiotic simpering and primping drove him nuts, and he asked his mother hundreds of questions about their behavior. His mom was his second best friend right after Bastian, and usually could explain things to him. He told her once that he thought the male form and body were much more attractive, but that he thought most guys were even more self involved than girls.
He didn't need a relationship anyway. He had a full time job watching after Bastian, who was his amigo, his sparing partner, his champion of justice, and was gorgeous.
Whoa, where did that come from? Dino scrubbed the soap out of his eyes and coughed on the spray from the shower. What the hell was he thinking? The image of Bastian standing in his room naked while he put on the costume was fresh in his mind, and he was shocked to look down and find himself hard as a rock.
Dino had Internet access, and had downloaded several images that provided what he thought of as nocturnal stimulus. Two or three nights a week, he would yank himself into bliss thinking about those JPEGs. Now, standing under the shower, he had a creepy feeling crawl up his spine, and he turned off the water in a hurry and grabbed his robe.
"C'mon, c'mon!" The computer took forever to fire up, and his fingers flashed over the keyboard. He found the program and file, and began flipping through his pictures. The creepy feeling got worse. Every one of those that he thought of as his favorites bore a very striking resemblance to Bastian. Same jock build, same smooth body, and most had long brown hair. He shuddered involuntarily.
Did he love Bastian, well, in a different sort of way? He thought back on their times together and on how he liked when Bastian would lay on the floor to play PS 2 and Dino would lay his head on Bastian's stomach. He was always in physical contact with Bastian, and though he wasn't very touchy with his family, he hugged Bastian a lot.
Bastian hugged him back, too. He could remember sitting in this chair and looking up car parts for Bastian over the Internet. Bastian came up behind him and wrapped his arms around Dino's shoulders and squeezed gently. Far too much contact for a jock. Wasn't it?
"I am so fucking stupid." Dino muttered and shut down the computer. "No wonder I didn't want to go to the Prom." He stood up and dropped the robe on the floor and headed to the dresser. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirrors on the closet doors and stopped, seeing himself through different eyes.
He was nowhere near as massive as Bastian, but Dino was well built. He worked out with Bastian on the weight bench twice a week, and his chest and shoulders were strong. His waist was slender, and his six-pack wasn't huge but was defined, and his legs were cut. There was no hair on his body except for the tiniest line from his belly button to his pubic hair, and a little fuzz on his legs mostly bleached by the sun.
He studied himself for another minute and then turned to dress, his thoughts running around and around. Was he imagining stuff, or was he really onto something? He'd always considered the possibility that he was gay or bi, but Bastian, the Super Jock? Was that all an act?
What would happen to them if they found out? Dino knew a lot of people that had blown friendships over lesser issues. He pulled on a pair of sport briefs and a white and blue zip up Nike shirt. His jeans from today were still clean, so he wore those again.
His thoughts were clouded and dark as he went back up into the kitchen. His sister, Annie, three years younger than he was, sat at the counter munching on pizza. "Mom went to get Paul at Terry's. She said to take that one." She pointed at one of the pizza boxes. "It's half and half."
"Cool, thanks." Dino picked up the pizza and headed out, grabbing his coat as he went. The snow was almost seven inches deep as he ran across the street and down the block. An approaching set of headlights turned into his mother's explorer, and he waved as he headed towards Bastian's door.
"Hey, dumb ass." He called out as he opened the door. Neither of them had knocked before entering in years.
"Hey, dick weed." Bastian looked up from the TV and stubbed out a cigarette. "Did you see the news?"
"No, and I thought you were going to quit." Dino tossed his coat behind the door and walked over to put the pizza in Bastian's lap and his icy hands on Bastian's neck, causing him to cringe.
"Christ, don't you own any gloves?" Bastian jumped off the couch and went to the kitchen for plates.
"Yeah, they're in your room on the floor." Dino threw himself on the couch and folded his legs under him. "What was on the news?"
"There's like this massive warm front behind the snow storm we're in. It's supposed to rain tomorrow night and Friday." Bastian came out of the kitchen and handed a plate to Dino with three slices of Pizza on it. "They think we could have a flood."
"Chessine Lane is up on a hill. We'd be fine." Dino tore into his pizza and watched the television.
"Man, don't get all choked up or nothin'." Bastian shook his head and shoved Dino over. "I have friends in town and so do you."
Dino pushed himself up and flashed a grin. "Next I guess I'm supposed to feel my heart bleed for every kid in Cambodia, right? Gimme a break, Bast. I didn't tell 'em to live by the river."
"You're such a dick." Bastian chuckled and bit into his pizza.
When they were done, Dino put their favorite movie in the VCR. Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein. Bastian popped some microwave popcorn and sat at the end of the couch with his legs splayed out. He tossed kernels in the air and caught them while Dino got the movie started.
Half way through the movie, Dino went to the bathroom. When he got back he stretched out on the couch and put his head on Bastian's leg. This wasn't unusual behavior, and Bastion never said a word. What was unusual was the war of feelings that they were both experiencing.
Bastian's mind wandered away from the movie, and without realizing it, he began to gently stroke Dino's hair. He sighed quietly and went to take a drink of his soda, and only then did it occur to him what he was doing. He jerked his hand away.
"Don't stop, it feels good." Dino mumbled. His cheek and mouth were mooshed from lying in Bastian's lap, and his eyes were closed. He was totally relaxed from the sensation of Bastian's fingers.
"I didn't know I was doing it." Bastian said lamely. "Sorry."
"It feels good, Bast. Keep doing it." Dino felt the fingers start through his hair again, hesitantly at first, and then more confidently. He breathed in deeply and let it out, a slight smile forming on his lips.
"How come stuff like this doesn't bother you?" Bastian asked quietly, studying Dino's face. "I mean, most guys freak out when another guy touches 'em."
"You're not any other guy. I guess it depends on whose touching, doesn't it?" Dino reached out and rubbed the part of Bastian's shin where the sweat pants had ridden up. "I can't think of anyone else I'd let do this except my mom."
"You're not freaked out?" Bastian asked. Carefully, he added rubbing the back of Dino's neck to the motions.
"Not really. I don't think you could freak me out." There, he'd said it, and he had to force himself to keep his breathing even. Dino waited for the bomb he'd just dropped to sink in, hoping he hadn't gone to far.
"Wanna bet?" Bastian mumbled miserably. He sighed again and let his hands get slightly braver. He slid it under Dino's collar and rubbed his shoulder, getting a low grunt and moan from Dino. "You like that?"
Dino suddenly pushed himself up on his knees and met Bastian's eyes almost defiantly. He pulled his t-shirt up and off and smiled as it hit the floor.
"Yeah, I do." He lay back down on his chest and put his head in Bastian's lap, dangling his arm down so he could rub Bastian's leg again.
Bastian's heart thudded in his chest. He didn't dare get his hopes up, but at the same time he was getting these crazy signals from Dino. He went back to running his fingers through Dino's hair with one hand and rubbing all over his back with the other, entranced by the feeling.
"You're trembling." Dino smirked but kept his eyes closed.
"I can't help it. Sorry." Bastian said. Even his voice sounded funny to him. Dino rolled onto his back and looked up at him. There was a strange smile on his face, and he reached up and stroked Bastian's cheek.
"Why are you nervous, Bast?" Dino thrilled at being able to touch Bastian's face like this. "Do you want to stop?" Bastian shook his head and closed his eyes, his free hand running slowly across Dino's chest and down to his stomach.
Dino swallowed hard and blew off his fear. He leaned up and pulled himself into Bastian's lap and put his arms around his neck. "I think I know what you want. Bast, and I want it too." He leaned in very carefully and kissed Bastian on the lips, lightly at first and then with passion.
When they parted, Bastian had a pained expression on his face and his eyes were watering up. He had to swallow hard before he could speak. "I don't know what to do." He whispered. "I'm afraid."
"You?" Dino looked him in the eye and smiled gently. "Bastian, you're not afraid of anything. You're my protector." He laid his head on Bastian's shoulder and sighed. "You've always been there for me."
"What happens now, though? What if we're not friends?" Bastian was having a hard time with the scattered feelings in his chest. He wrapped his arms around Dino and hugged him tightly. "I need you to be there, man. You're my rock, you know?"
Dino caressed his cheek and looked up at him. "Nothing has to happen if we don't want it too, Bast, but I really want this. It doesn't have to hurry and happen tonight." He closed his eyes and settled against Bastian. "It'd be cool if this lasted forever."
"I don't want to be gay." Bastian choked out and his chest heaved. "I never wanted this. It's not normal. I feel wrong." He swiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. "Dino, I've felt this way about you for a long time and I can't take it any more. It's killing me."
Dino turned to Face Bastian and looked from one eye to the other. "Why is it wrong for me to love you, Bastian? Who says it's wrong?"
"Everybody hates fags, you know that." Bastian sniffed and looked away, horrified. "Oh my God, we're fags!" He hissed.
"Stop it!" Dino snapped. "Look at me, Bastian." Slowly he did, and Dino felt anger building in him. "What's changed, Bastian? Do you feel any different about me now than you did a week ago? Be honest." Bastian shook his head and looked down. Dino reached over and tilted his head up and met his eyes. "Bastian, I feel like an idiot because it took me so long to figure out how I felt. I never wanted to be with anyone else because I always compared them to you."
Bastian smiled. "Me too." He cleared his throat and reached out to put his palm on Dino's chest. "I don't give a fuck what they think of me, Dino, but I don't want to see you hurt, man."
Dino put his hand over Bastian's and held it over his heart. "They can't ever hurt me with you standing behind me, big guy. Ever." He leaned forward and kissed Bastian on the lips and gently used his tongue to pry Bastian's mouth open. IT was much easier this time.
Before long, Bastian had his t-shirt off and they had progressed into a proper make out session. Bastian finally had to break away to catch his breath. "God, I wanted that for so long." He carefully shifted Dino off his chest and rolled off the couch. "I have got to take a leak. Sorry." He grinned and ran down the hall.
Dino pushed his heavily mussed dark hair out of his face and sighed. So far the kissing and petting thing had been better than he ever imagined. Until tonight, the thought of having some girl pawing at him gave him the creeps, but Bastian, oh Jesus, did that light up his nerves.
Bastian came back and plopped on the couch, putting his feet on the battered coffee table. He lit a cigarette and leaned back, holding his arm up for Dino to snuggle up.
"Man, I'm not going to kiss that." Dino waved his hand in front of his face. "It smells bad."
"I promise, I'll brush my teeth." Bastian exhaled towards the ceiling. "Dude, do you know it's almost two am? What time do we have to be at the first school?"
"I told mom we'd meet her at the school at nine." Dino yawned and settled into Bastian's side. "I left the costumes here. We can just put them on in the morning and head out."
"Ready for bed?" Bastian asked and then looked stricken. "Uh, are you sleeping in the bed?"
"Don't I always?" Dino looked up at Bastian. "Why?"
"Well, things are different now." Bastian said quietly. "I don't know if I'm ready for a lot of different."
Dino smiled and rubbed Bastian's bare chest. "Bastian, it's not a rule that we have to have sex because we kissed. Maybe it will happen and maybe it won't, but it doesn't have to be tonight." He stood up and held out his hand. "C'mon, you can just hold me tonight. Is that okay?"
"I think I'm gonna like that." Bastian smiled and allowed him self to be pulled up. He followed Dino towards his room. "Thanks, Dino."
"For what?" Dino pulled back the covers and got the double bed ready.
"For not making me rush or anything." Bastian pulled off his sweats and tossed them in the corner. He usually slept in his briefs.
"Go brush your teeth or I won't kiss you goodnight." Dino pointed at the door. After Bastian left the room he slid his jeans and socks off and went to brush his teeth. They both had toothbrushes at each other's houses and had for a long time.
Bastian made room at the sink for him and looked at their reflections in the mirror standing side by side. He put his free arm around Dino's waist and hugged him. They finished up, rinsed the sink, and headed for the bedroom.
An hour later, his arm around Dino's waist, Bastian stared at the shadows on the wall. He was so tired his eyes burned but he couldn't get to sleep. It felt so good to be cuddled up to Dino's back, and to have his arm around him. Dino's deep even breaths were soothing, but he just couldn't fall asleep.
He knew the world had changed, and it scared him. A lot of the respect that he got a school was from his reputation as a jock and as someone who'd beat someone else's ass for looking at him wrong. It would be hard to maintain that.
Dino had a reputation for being a flirt and a ladies man, although Bastian doubted he knew or even cared. A lot of Dino's friends were girls, and it made Bastian very uncomfortable to be competing with them.
What really ground on his mind was regret. He realized about five minutes after Dino had fallen to sleep that he really wished they'd tried sex. He groaned and closed his eyes, sliding his hips back so Dino couldn't feel what was poking out between them.
God, this was all so confusing.