Remedial Lunacy {LGBT}

Chapter 2 - Dinner with a side of arrogance.

The three of them settled down in the corner of the restaurant, all around them people chatted and dined most not seeing anything wrong with three men dining together. Connor had forced himself into one of the booth seats to avoid being in the path of the waiting staff. He furrowed his brow as he looked at his friends’ interlocked hands, his eyes focused on the silver band on Thomas’ left hand.

“You’re engaged!” Connor blurted out regardless of the conversation.

“Yup.” Thomas beamed.

“I thought it was a little off that Matt was here to watch x-men with us.” Connor looked at Matt and apologised. “This is not his cup of tea at all.”

“Actually the movie wasn’t that bad.” Matt swirled his straw in the glass.

“Do you guy s have a date planned or anything?” Connor spun around as he felt someone’s breath on the back of his neck. His eyes met a pair of deep blue eyes. “Can I help you?”

“Sorry I couldn’t help but overhear the good news.” He offered a friendly smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Matt and Tom said in unison.

“Do you mind if I sit with you? My friend overheard and well he left.” The man scratched his head and averted his eyes.

“Umm I guess that is ok.” Tom looked at Connor who offered him a shrug. “I guess you don’t have a problem with us?”

“Nah my brother is gay, my uncle is gay and I Identify as bi.” The guy slid into the seat next to Connor. “My name is Alex.”

“Hi Alex.” Connor offered the man a handshake. “I’m Connor, and these two love birds are Matt and Thomas.”

“So do you have a significant other?” Alex leaned over the booth to retrieve his drink.

“Umm no.” Connor looked up at Thomas with a pleading stare.

“Really? A Beautiful young man such as you without a lover is almost a crime.” He spun round and took a swig of his drink.

“Beautiful?” Connor choked on his drink. His brain ran a mile a minute at the mention of the ‘B’ word. His breath caught in his chest and his hands balled into fists. Blood pulsed in his ears and muted the sounds of the restaurant.  

“Handsome, good-looking, hot. You pick the compliment you prefer.” Alex laid his glass on the spare coaster. He looked confused as he took in the expressions of the people surrounding him. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” Connor jumped in to break the tension. “I’m just not used to being called beautiful.”

“Ah.” Alex shifted uncomfortably. “So what did you think of the new x-men movie?”

“It was good, a few minor issues with storyline and continuity but other than that it was thoroughly enjoyable.”  Connor didn’t look up from the table. He focused on the damage to the edge, and contemplated how easy it would be to fix.

“I liked it.” Matt tried to break the silence, but it hung over the table like an ominous dark cloud.

“If you could have the gift of any of the mutants, which would you chose?” Alex pulled the menu towards him and scanned his options. “I think I would chose storm. I would love to control weather.”

“Telepathy for me.” Matt leaned back in his seat.

“Like Professor X or more Jean gray?” Tom said as he shrugged off his confusion.

“This is the only movie I have watched.” Matt reminded.

“Oh yeah,” Tom scratched his head as he contemplated his options. “I guess I would love to be able to teleport, time travel or walk through walls.”

“You are not picky are you?” Conner jested.

“Mutant powers no, friends and relationships very much so.” He gave Connor the eye before looking at Alex and smiling.

“Connor it is your turn.” Alex pushed the menu away.

“Wolverine’s healing ability.” Connor avoided everyone’s gaze.

“I get why you would want that.” Regret flooded over Alex’s face as soon as the words left his mouth. His brain fumbled over an apology but his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth and the words lodged in his throat.

“But would that mean your body healing to the state it is in when you gain the ability, or will it heal everything to original condition?” Thomas allowed the thought to percolate in his brain until he realised what he had really said.

“I would hope it would find solace somewhere between the two.” Connor looked away. His mind reeling at the idea of losing everything he had gained from surgery. The self-confidence would wither into nothingness and he would almost never leave his house, to lose his chair was not worth that pain.

“Original condition?” Alex questioned. He looked from Connor to Tom, his eyes searching for an answer but finding none. “I don’t understand.”

“Birth defect.” Connor said quickly. He buried his face in the menu and wished the earth would swallow him whole.

“I don’t see it.” Alex looked around for the waiter. “So it can’t be too bad.”

“You have no idea.” Connor mumbled.

“Wait a minute.” Alex snapped round to face Connor. “Look at me.” His eyes focused on the features of the young man. “No way, no fucking way.” He backed away from Connor as fast as he could. “Cripple I can deal with, head-case not so much.”  He tripped over his own feet as he walked backwards. “You fucking freak.”

“So much for beautiful.” Connor replied.

“Maybe you were once, but now I see the damage you have done to yourself, you stupid tranny.” Alex turned up his nose and stormed off.