It was 1:33 AM and Joe Levine was furiously writing chapter 26 of his newest biology textbook. The only sound was his typing away at the keyboard on his computer, the keys of which had long since faded. His ink-stained fingers glided over the blank keys.
"Joe?"
He turned around to see Kenneth Miller, colleague and closest friend.
"Joe, you need to get some rest, okay? The textbook can wait. It will still be there tomorrow."
Joe sighed. "I know, I just wanted to finish this chapter." He paused. "Wait, what are you doing up this late anyways?"
"Well, I- okay, you got me. I just finished up a comic strip to cover up that empty space on page 376. It's about the lytic cycle- do you want to see it?"
"Of course I want to see it!" replied Joe. Kenneth opened up a folded piece of paper to reveal a crudely drawn comic about a cowboy who rides into town one day and takes over. It fell flat, both as a comic and as a metaphor for the lytic cycle, but the two men were tired and their judgement was impaired, perhaps by their tiredness or the company of each other.
"Ken, you explain it so well. I don't know how you do it. This is definitely going in the book."
"Thanks, Joe. You're always so supportive of me. Most folks would probably say this is trash" (which, in fairness, wasn't far off).
"No, I should thank you. This was my idea after all- you don't need to do anything. And yet you do. You do so much."
The two shared an embrace.
"Ken?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?"
"Anything!"
"Promise not to hate me after?"
"Promise."
"... I think I love you."
Kenneth was unsure how to respond.
"this isn't biological. I mean, two males… You need a male and a female to produce offspring!"
"Ken, we don't have to comply with TEA standards. We can follow the Macaw Book. We can follow our hearts!"
Kenneth thought about this for awhile.
"Joe… I think I love you too."
The two leaned in for a kiss that would have deeply perturbed the Texas Education Agency. But for once, in this moment, they were allowed to follow their endocrine systems without the fear of being judged. As they pulled away, they were sharply aware that their reputation would be jeopardized if anyone found out. The world was not yet a tolerant enough place for them to come out. But the bigot genes would be selected against over time, and the frequency of the homophobia allele would decrease, and someday the world would be a safer place for them.