[Just The Two Of Us ] LGBTQ+ OneShots

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓾𝓻𝓪𝓵

Word count : 874

In the small town of Cedarville, nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, there was a peculiar art gallery that no one seemed to know about. It wasn't on any map and it didn't have a sign out front. The only way to find it was by following a winding dirt road through the woods, past an old abandoned farmhouse, and up a steep hill. At the top of the hill, tucked away in a clearing, was a quaint little cottage with a large bay window that looked out over the valley below. The door was always unlocked, and inside, the walls were lined with paintings and sculptures that were breathtakingly beautiful and hauntingly enigmatic.

The artist who lived and worked there was a man named Oliver. He was tall and lanky, with long, flowing hair that he kept pulled back into a messy ponytail. His features were sharp and striking, and his eyes held a wisdom that belied his years. Oliver was gay, and his art reflected his experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. His paintings were filled with vibrant colors and intricate details, telling stories of love and loss, joy and sorrow, and the struggles that came with being true to oneself in a world that wasn't always accepting.

One day, a young man named Noah wandered into the gallery. He was new to Cedarville, having moved there with his family after his father's job relocated. Noah was gay too, and he felt an immediate connection to Oliver's work. He spent hours in the gallery, admiring each piece and trying to understand the emotions that went into creating them. As they got to know each other better, Oliver became something of a mentor to Noah, teaching him about the importance of self-expression and the power of art to change hearts and minds.

Together, they worked on a project that would bring awareness to the LGBTQ+ community in Cedarville. Oliver painted a mural on the side of an old, abandoned building downtown, depicting a rainbow of colors and images that represented the diverse members of the community. Noah helped with the logistics and marketing, reaching out to local businesses and organizations for support. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the mural was completed in record time.

Unfortunately, not everyone in the town was as accepting. One night, while Oliver and Noah were asleep, they were awakened by the sound of glass shattering and shouting. Rushing outside, they discovered that Oliver's mural had been vandalized with hate speech and obscene graffiti. The once beautiful mural was now marred with hate and intolerance.

Oliver was devastated. He retreated back to his gallery in the woods, withdrawing from the community and isolating himself. Noah, however, was furious. He knew that Oliver's work had brought hope and comfort to so many people, and he refused to let the hateful actions of a few ruin everything they had worked for.

Noah spent days trying to track down the culprits, but to no avail. He eventually decided to take matters into his own hands and started a campaign to restore the mural. He organized a group of volunteers, many of them from the LGBTQ+ community, and together they set to work cleaning and repairing the damage.

As they worked, they began to discuss the complexities of identity and acceptance within the community. Some of the volunteers shared stories of feeling alienated and misunderstood, just like the vandals. They talked about the pressure to conform to certain expectations and the fear of rejection if they didn't. Oliver, who had emerged from his self-imposed exile to help with the restoration, listened intently, his heart breaking for the pain they had endured.

Noah looked at Oliver, feeling a deep connection to him, and leaned in. As their lips met, a spark ignited between them. The kiss was tender and passionate, filled with the promise of something more. The other volunteers, sensing the shift in energy, exchanged glances but remained respectful of the moment. As they continued to work, their hands moved with a newfound sense of purpose, not just restoring the mural but also healing the wounds that had been inflicted upon their community.

In the weeks that followed, Oliver and Noah's relationship blossomed. They spent most of their time together, exploring the beauty of the Ozark Mountains and discussing their dreams for a brighter future. They attended community events, speaking out against hate and intolerance, and advocating for acceptance and understanding. Their love story became a beacon of hope for many in Cedarville, showing that even in the darkest of times, there was light to be found.

As the seasons changed, so too did the town's attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. Slowly but surely, people began to see Oliver and Noah not as outsiders or threats, but as members of the community who had something valuable to contribute. They listened to their stories and learned from their experiences. They began to understand that love, in all its forms, was something to be celebrated and cherished.