FREE FLYING HEARTS -- A collection of short stories from Tonig73

..... 5 .....

Larry and Laurent were out shopping.  It was a week before the ESPY's, and this one particular thing they were looking for had to be right.  It was bespoke, and Laurent was looking for the right colour.  They had ordered it in 3 different colours, and were on their way to make the final decision. 

"It has to match."  he insisted.

"I don't see what difference it makes."  Larry complained.

"You don't have to have it in every one of your pictures, I do."

"It will be in everyone of my pictures, because I won't take one without you in it."  Larry kissed him gently and sweetly, as much as Laurent was moaning about it.

Larry pushed Laurent's chair into the store, and they were cheerily greeted by the manager.  He showed them the 3 samples.

"I like the dark blue one, it'll match our suits."  Laurent stated.

"I like the red one, it'll match your eyes."  Larry quipped, earning himself a cutting side glance.

"What about the little black number ?"  the guy suggested.  After deliberating for at least half an hour, Laurent decided on the his original choice, the blue.  

"OK, take a seat for a minute, Laurent, we'll make the necessary adjustments, then you'll be good to go."  Laurent tried to smile as Larry steadied his chair, and offered his hand for Laurent to take.  He wobbled to his feet, after having been sat for so long.  He steadied himself as he turned around to sit in his new motorized wheelchair, the dark blue one.  He shot Larry another weak smile, as Larry returned to hold his hand, crouching in front of him.

"I know, I know, Lau.  It's like admitting defeat, isn't it ?"

"It IS admitting defeat."  He hadn't wanted the help of a manual wheelchair in the first place, and he and Larry had argued about the need for one.  And now, here he was, front and centre in a large, bulky, motorized behemoth of a chunk of dark blue metal.  It was Larry's condition, another one as Laurent felt he kept moving the goalposts, and he was to be honest, of going the awards ceremony.  That he had a chair so he wouldn't wear himself out, it was going to be stressful enough, and they would be stood for long periods of time.  Plus, Larry argued, they'd be given better seats.  

Laurent didn't want to go for him, he wanted to go so the world could see, and so he could tell the world, how proud he was of Larry.  And because he deserved it.

"Yeah"  Laurent looked at himself in the mirror, playing with the chairs controls absentmindedly, his gaze meeting his own eyes in the mirror's reflection.  They met sadness and sorrow, and the one he hated the most, resignation.  He added flatly, 

"It'll match our suits." 

==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  == 

Larry was trying to adjust Laurent's collar, standing behind him, struggling.

"Why you have to be so fucking tall ?"

"We're the same height, Larry."

"Sit down, I can't .... sit down !"

"OK, OK, Jeez ..... anybody'd think we were going somewhere important"  He cheesed at Larry through the mirror.  The car was going to be there in 10 minutes, but apart from Laurent's jacket collar not doing what it was told, they were ready.  In matching midnight blue Givenchy, they were wearing a classic with a twist.  Gorgeous, outrageously fitted slim cut suits, but they were shirtless, with a vest, ankle grazers, and matching sneakers, all in colour block monochrome.  And they both looked amazing.