Oh my heck.
Major homework project: done. Going to New York: tomorrow. Ficlets: posting one now, the other one is Real Fic so I'm holding it for Monday. Life: kind of fucking awesome.
So. Yes. Timestamp meme ficlet. For jule1122, June 2010 after No More Than Reason, don't worry about familiarity with the fic. Johnny/Ben.
"I have nothing to wear," Johnny whines. The bedspread is invisible. There is nothing left in his closet except skating costumes. Maybe this is a good sign the morning before their Advocate interview.
"Then don't wear anything," Ben says.
"Ha," Johnny says. "What do you like? That I have."
"There is no right answer to that question," Ben says. Ben has been ready to go for an hour. He's wearing a clean white polo shirt and jeans. He even ironed the shirt. He squeezes Johnny around the waist. "But I think you look sexy in what you have on."
"Do I want to be sexy?" Johnny says. "Maybe I should go for approachable."
"I'm the approachable one," Ben says.
"You're also the sexy one," Johnny says. "And the two-time Olympic medalist. Fuck it, go without me, say I'm straight after all."
"Who'd believe that?" Ben says. He's still holding Johnny. He rocks from side to side, taking Johnny with him, shaking them both loose. "Besides. They're going to give us clothes for the photo shoot. It was in the e-mail. Bring your skates and your medals, don't worry about the rest."
"Maybe they aren't giving us clothes," Johnny says. "Maybe it's a nude shoot."
"That would be fine," Ben says. He kisses the back of Johnny's head and gets a little laugh out of him, which is all he wanted.
"Medals," Johnny says. "Which medals do you think they want me to bring?"
"Worlds," Ben says. "All the Nats ones." He doesn't want to start this argument again, the one where Johnny complains that Ben's are better. Ben is not allowed to say that Johnny should be proud of ending his career as National Champion and World Silver Medalist. The field was weak at Worlds. How would you know? You stayed home and had back surgery.
"I guess I should go find them," Johnny says. "You're sure I look okay?"
"Better than," Ben says. He watches Johnny dash out of the room. It hits Ben sometimes that they're still together. That's not how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to go back to Merrie again, one more time with remorse. He isn't supposed to be shacking up with this guy he won at a Grand Prix event, not for three and a half years, after a while barely pretending to be anything but his boyfriend. Bisexuals have the luxury of the closet. They're supposed to learn to get comfy.
This interview is way off the "supposed to" list. They had to wait until people had stopped thinking about the Olympics, until USFSA was completely confident that it would not be funding them next season. The Advocate says they're still crossing their fingers for a cover. Gay athletes sell magazines. There are people who like knowing they exist.
"We're going to miss the train," Johnny is shouting from the other end of the house as if this is not his fault. "Where are you?"
"Mexico," Ben yells back. The dogs are scurrying at the noise, or possibly because Johnny has remembered to release them into the backyard. He slings his heavy bag over his shoulder, skates and medals and something to read on the train.
They're getting into the car and Johnny says, "You know what I couldn't find? My gold from Cup of Russia. Our Cup of Russia."
"I have it," Ben says. "Mine, yours, the one Tan made. Three of the four Cheburashka pictures, I lost the free dance one in the move. And the swan. With the hat."
"In case they want the whole story?" Johnny says. He's throwing three bags into the back seat. God only knows what he's got in two of them. He looks sexy and approachable.
"In case they've never seen a swan with a hat before," Ben says.
Johnny puts on his sunglasses. He never lets Ben drive. "Us water fowl," he says. "We know how to accessorize." He reaches past the gear shift to squeeze Ben's hand. "We're doing this, aren't we?"
"I am," Ben says.
"The story doesn't actually go like this," Johnny says. "I don't get to have you. I don't get to buy a house with you and raise your dogs."
"That's what you won when you won me," Ben says.
So. Yes. Timestamp meme ficlet. For jule1122, June 2010 after No More Than Reason, don't worry about familiarity with the fic. Johnny/Ben.
"I have nothing to wear," Johnny whines. The bedspread is invisible. There is nothing left in his closet except skating costumes. Maybe this is a good sign the morning before their Advocate interview.
"Then don't wear anything," Ben says.
"Ha," Johnny says. "What do you like? That I have."
"There is no right answer to that question," Ben says. Ben has been ready to go for an hour. He's wearing a clean white polo shirt and jeans. He even ironed the shirt. He squeezes Johnny around the waist. "But I think you look sexy in what you have on."
"Do I want to be sexy?" Johnny says. "Maybe I should go for approachable."
"I'm the approachable one," Ben says.
"You're also the sexy one," Johnny says. "And the two-time Olympic medalist. Fuck it, go without me, say I'm straight after all."
"Who'd believe that?" Ben says. He's still holding Johnny. He rocks from side to side, taking Johnny with him, shaking them both loose. "Besides. They're going to give us clothes for the photo shoot. It was in the e-mail. Bring your skates and your medals, don't worry about the rest."
"Maybe they aren't giving us clothes," Johnny says. "Maybe it's a nude shoot."
"That would be fine," Ben says. He kisses the back of Johnny's head and gets a little laugh out of him, which is all he wanted.
"Medals," Johnny says. "Which medals do you think they want me to bring?"
"Worlds," Ben says. "All the Nats ones." He doesn't want to start this argument again, the one where Johnny complains that Ben's are better. Ben is not allowed to say that Johnny should be proud of ending his career as National Champion and World Silver Medalist. The field was weak at Worlds. How would you know? You stayed home and had back surgery.
"I guess I should go find them," Johnny says. "You're sure I look okay?"
"Better than," Ben says. He watches Johnny dash out of the room. It hits Ben sometimes that they're still together. That's not how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to go back to Merrie again, one more time with remorse. He isn't supposed to be shacking up with this guy he won at a Grand Prix event, not for three and a half years, after a while barely pretending to be anything but his boyfriend. Bisexuals have the luxury of the closet. They're supposed to learn to get comfy.
This interview is way off the "supposed to" list. They had to wait until people had stopped thinking about the Olympics, until USFSA was completely confident that it would not be funding them next season. The Advocate says they're still crossing their fingers for a cover. Gay athletes sell magazines. There are people who like knowing they exist.
"We're going to miss the train," Johnny is shouting from the other end of the house as if this is not his fault. "Where are you?"
"Mexico," Ben yells back. The dogs are scurrying at the noise, or possibly because Johnny has remembered to release them into the backyard. He slings his heavy bag over his shoulder, skates and medals and something to read on the train.
They're getting into the car and Johnny says, "You know what I couldn't find? My gold from Cup of Russia. Our Cup of Russia."
"I have it," Ben says. "Mine, yours, the one Tan made. Three of the four Cheburashka pictures, I lost the free dance one in the move. And the swan. With the hat."
"In case they want the whole story?" Johnny says. He's throwing three bags into the back seat. God only knows what he's got in two of them. He looks sexy and approachable.
"In case they've never seen a swan with a hat before," Ben says.
Johnny puts on his sunglasses. He never lets Ben drive. "Us water fowl," he says. "We know how to accessorize." He reaches past the gear shift to squeeze Ben's hand. "We're doing this, aren't we?"
"I am," Ben says.
"The story doesn't actually go like this," Johnny says. "I don't get to have you. I don't get to buy a house with you and raise your dogs."
"That's what you won when you won me," Ben says.