Happy Birthday
Roy swore quietly as he jerked his hand back from the sizzling skillet. He stuck his finger in the mouth and nursed his scorched digit. He frowned and glared at the skillet. The chicken was browning slightly and Roy was forced to use his opposite hand to maneuver the spatula. Once that was done, Roy leaned against the counter and examined his finger. The skin was red and a blister had already started to form. Roy shrugged and turned back to the skillet. He began to hum quietly, mindlessly stirring the contents of the skillet. Roy tried not to notice when two arms lightly draped around his neck and a weight was dropped onto his shoulder.
"Your home early" Roy said, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, well I thought I would turn in early since it's your night to cook."
"Hmm, I'm sure. Hey, you pick up that paperwork I told you about?"
"Umm, yeah. I left it on the table. If you don't mind I'm going to go get cleaned up."
"No problem, it should be ready in ten."
Roy smiled sadly as the arms withdrew from around his neck and the familiar weight was lifted from his shoulder. Roy waited till he heard the bathroom door close and then covered the skillet. He wiped his hands on the apron he was wearing and walked to the dining room table. He started shuffling through the paperwork, same old boring stuff. All of the sudden a picture flittered out of the stack and landed on the floor.
Roy frowned and bent over to retrieve it. He flipped it over and stared at the picture. There they were blazing smiles, fingers entwined, lying on the couch. Roy smiled and flipped the picture over. Written in his beautiful script was printed; Maes's 33rd Birthday.
"What's that?"
"Picture of us on your 33rd birthday."
"Lem'me see..."
"Look how black my hair used to be."
Roy looked to the man that was leaning against the table, arm draped over the back of a chair peering intensely at the picture. True, his hair was no longer the pure black it had been, it was now streaked with the tale-tell sign of aging. Roy himself had a few gray hairs but not any where near the myriad that marked his companion.
"Ah well, good times. Good times", Maes said handing Roy the photo.
"Ten years later and you still don't look a day over thirty-three."
Maes frowned, and then burst out into a roar of laughter. Roy smiled and joined him.
"Hey watch it, your not so young yourself."
Roy smiled. Today was his thirty-eighth birthday and Maes wouldn't have missed it for the world. Roy guessed that was the excuse that Maes had used on Hawkeye to get her to let him leave early and to get Roy's paperwork for the day.
Maes smiled and watched his companion brake away from the table and place the picture on the fridge. Roy moved back to the kitchen to check on the chicken and begin plating the dinner. Maes moved gracefully behind Roy, wrapping his arms around Roy's slender waist and resting his chin on his lovers shoulder. Roy leaned back, taking in Maes warm embrace. Roy quickly finished plating their dinner and wiped his hands on the towel draped limply on his opposite shoulder.
Roy smiled and turned around into Maes embrace. Maes chuckled and tousled Roy's mop of black hair. Roy sighed and wrapped his arms around Maes neck. Maes smiled mirthfully and cupped Roy's face, brushing his thumb over Roy's lips. Roy murmured a soft moan, Maes laughed softly. Roy felt dazed as Maes picked him up and carried him to the couch. Maes hovered over him admiring his lover. He was perfect, from his piercing black eyes to his porcelain skin. Maes was jolted from his thoughts as Roy pulled him into a passionate kiss, a kiss that caused his body to ache and his heart to falter. They held the kiss for as long as they could muster before breaking it off, both out of breath and gasping for air.
Roy smiled deviously, eyes sparkling. Maes plopped back against the couch panting.
"Happy Birthday Roy." Maes murmured, trying to catch his breath.