Remedial Lunacy {LGBT}

Chapter 1 - Hugh Jackman

Connor wheeled himself ahead of his friends, navigating his way through the forest of bodies towards the prebooked ticket booth. He ignored the sighs and complaints that echoed above his head as he pushed through to reach the end of the queue. Time seemed to stop as he sat waiting, he looked at the non-queueing people, it was almost like they were moving at super speed. His eyes wandered to his friend, Thomas, who's arms were enveloped around his boyfriend. Connor watched their playful loving teasing touches, how happy they looked as the world just continued to spin around them.

A loud cough from behind him snapped him back to his own situation, he pushed himself two feet foreward and shook his head. He stared blankly at the space between his feet, his mind running with all his faults and reasons why he would never find anyone to accept him enough to love him. After an age he made his way to the desk, handed over his money and recieved the three tickets. He turned down the offer of further assistance and peeled away as fast as he could.

He pulled up alongside his intertwined friends and coughed. No response. "I apologise in advance these seats are going to suck, the 3D is less effective from the back row."

Thomas pulled away from Matt's neck and wiggled his eyebrows, “But Hugh Jackman will be hot no matter where you sit.”

Matt shook his head “I guess you will be too lost in the movie to enjoy sitting in the back of the cinema with me then?” He jumped off Thomas' lap and took a few steps backwards.

Thomas’ eyes widened. “That is one hell of a tough decision.” He took the ticket from Connor's hand and eyed up his seat number. He looked back and forth as his mind raced to pick the best option. He trailed behind the group as they walked through the hall towards the largest of the screens.

Connor paused at the lift, he supressed a laugh as Tom walked into the back of Matt. "Put him out of his misery, if you don't make a decision then he will end up trying to decide instead of watching the movie." Connor mashed the button to call the lift.

"Hmm, perhaps we can come to a deal? You watch the movie in peace and we can make up for the missed opertunity later." Matt backed towards the entrance to the screen. "Now do you want to ride with Connor or walk with me?"

“I’m fine on my own.” Connor reversed his way into the elevator. “Enjoy him before he gets lost in the glory of Hugh.”

Matt laughed and snatched Thomas’ hand; the pair walked through the open doors and began to climb the stairs. A few pairs of eyes fell on their intertwined fingers. One man huffed loudly and remarked his discomfort. Matt pulled on Thomas before he had the chance to engage in a response. “Hugh Jackman.” Matt whispered in his ear. He watched as the tension that had built in his partner’s shoulders rapidly dissipated.

“I see you have made it.” Connor leaned back with a regal air and began to munch on his popcorn. “How nice of you to join me.”

“We almost lost Tom,” Matt clambered his way to the seat next to Connor, “But the lure of Wolverine far outweighed his gay pride.”

“Lucky, a lesser actor may not have had such a favourable outcome.” Connor laughed.

“Pfft I don’t know what you two are talking about, I just defend my rights to sit next to the person I love and hold their hand in public.” Tom plopped down in his seat and crossed his arms. His lower lip poked out in a childish pout.

“You know he is probably just pissed that either he can’t get a partner or that she didn’t want to come with him.” Connor poked out his tongue.

As the lights dimmed, the hubbub of the cinema died with it. The light and sound of the advertisements assaulted Connor’s senses and forced him to half close his eyes. It triggered the anxiety, slowly it bubbled in the pit of his stomach until it threatened to overtake his rational mind; he scanned the room for all potential exits. A hand landed on his arm, the soft skin giving warm as it offered him reassurance. He took a deep breath and focused on the hand, each detail allowing him relief from the pulsing sound and flashing lights.  As the opening credits started, he refocused and allowed himself to be absorbed completely into the movie.

Thomas crunched his way through his own large bucket of popcorn, unconsciously shovelling handfuls into his gaping mouth, a few straggling pieces making a bid for freedom across the cinema floor. He hovered on the edge of his seat; eyes locked on the screen. He snapped back to reality as the phone of the woman three rows in front of him screamed into life. It caterwauled the latest pop tune, and Tom subconsciously allowed himself to hurl his handful of popcorn in her direction. The kernels flew into the air and gracefully showered down on everyone except the woman who triumphantly pulled the offending item from her bag.

“That movie was awesome!” Tom leapt from his seat, sending trails of popcorn in all directions. “The way they managed to undo all the crap from the previous sequels , I can’t wait for the next one.”

“2016 is a bit of a wait.” Connor stretched his arms and yawned.

“What did you think?” Tom looked around Matt to get a good view of his best friend. “Was that a good yawn or a bad one?”

“That was a ‘I’ve been awake since 5am’ yawn.” Connor released the breaks on his chair. “I liked it, some interesting new characters and development of the old ones.” He wheeled himself towards the door. “But Misique only ever had the gift of mimicking the appearance of other mutants, she could never replicate the abilities, Rogue was the only one able to do that.”

“You…. You just ruined it.” Tom stuttered.

“No I didn’t,” Connor paused at the door, “They were working on manipulating genetics at that time, it is entirely possible that they found a way of evolving her traits to be just like Rogue.”

“I’m lost.” Matt picked up his empty cup and dropped it into Tom’s popcorn bucket.

“And if the x-men evolution cartoons had anything to go on I believe the two were distantly related.” Connor offered before he disappeared through the door.

“That ass.” Tom turned to Matt for support.

“You enjoyed the movie didn’t you?” Matt pointed him towards the stairs. He snatched up their rubbish and followed his partner. “I enjoyed it, and I don’t care what he said, it was still good.”

“But you don’t understand the story as well as we do.” Tom whined.

“Perhaps the questions you have will be answered in the next movie?” Matt threw the rubbish in the bin as they walked round to meet Connor. “So get your knickers straightened out.”

Thomas stopped walking, looked at Matt and blinked several times. “Did you just…?”

“Indeed I did.” Matt smiled. “We have some good news to share remember.” 

“Oh yeah.” Tom bounded over to Matt and snatched up his hand.