Love Is Ǝvil

24 Call Me Extra, Extra Terrestrial

He closed the door behind him. She was already sitting in her chair and nodded a greeting in his direction. "Doc, I got a problem. I think I need your help." Nervous he ran a hand through his hair.

"Perfect timing then", she smiled at him. "What exactly do you need my help with?"

Marshall paced through her small office. Sitting wasn't his thing right now, he rather be on the move. Felt safer. "I, uhm ... I don't know how to say that. Out loud. It's freaking weird, Doc."

"Well, just start small. We'll be getting to the big things eventually." Another warm smile.

He tried to smile back, probably didn't work, and took a deep breath. Being calm would help right now. But he was so fucking nervous to say it out loud, it wasn't funny anymore. "I invited Nicolas to my party, the Halloween party." Well, that didn't sound too bad.

She looked at him curiously. "You sound like that would be a big deal. Who is Nicolas?"

"You remember the guy with the tattoo on his shoulder blades? That's Nicolas. We're ... uhm ... We're, kind of, dating. I think?"

"Congratulations", she smiled delighted. "That's a big step. All of it. Making the effort to be with him, but also to stand by your relationship in front of someone else. That's really great. I'm happy for you, Marshall."

Sheepishly he rubbed his neck. "Thanks?" That felt awkward.

"So, you invited him to your party. How is that a problem?", she asked and he knew what she was doing, trying to get him back on track. He appreciated that.

"That ain't the problem. Not all of it, at least, just kinda. It's a Halloween party, right, with costumes and pumpkins and stuff. The whole shebang."

She nodded slowly. "Sounds like fun?"

"That's what I said", finally, someone agreed with him. "But ... the problem is, Nicolas kinda, uhm, he made a ... wish?"

Of course she was curious to ask: "What did he wish for?"

Marshall took another deep breath. "What I go as. Is that weird?"

"Not at all", she said with a reassuring tone. "Couples often decide together on their costumes. And a lot of other stuff as well. That's part of being in a relationship."

"Yeah, I know", he sighed. "I know that. Guess, goes for guy couples as much as normal ones. And I said, I'd think about it. That's what I need your help with."

She gestured toward the couch for him to sit down. "Of course I'm going to help you. But I have the feeling, you haven't told me the actual problem yet. If it's your party and you made it into a costume party because it's fun, well, why would him having an idea for that be a problem? What did he wish you would dress up as?"

Bull's eye.

Marshall sat down with a sigh. "A sexy cat."

His therapist looked at him for a moment surprised. "That is ... unexpected." She brushed a strand of curved hair behind her ears. "He wants you to dress up as a sexy cat? That is an interesting request."

He mumbled low. "Tell me about it."

"And you told him, you'd think about it?"

He nodded. "Yap. And there's my problem, Doc."

She leaned forward in her chair and looked at him closely. "Not quite yet. I'm pretty sure, you'd have not much of a problem telling him no, if he was out of line here. You can be rather vocal if you don't want to do something, I know from experience."

"Sorry", he scratched his neck. "Didn't mean that."

She raised her hand briefly. "It's okay, don't worry about it. But, what actually is your problem now? A Halloween costume seems normal enough and a feline isn't all that troubling really. If you consider heeding his wish, I don't see a problem here. The sexy part might be something for just the two of you, though, I admit, depending on the type of party you're throwing."