Day 3: Gaming/Watching a Movie

John's mouth was hanging open like he was trying to catch flies as he played the latest Legend of Zelda video game from the comfort of his couch. He had one sock on and one sock off, his hair stuck up in every direction, and his mouth tasted like sugar and death.

Dorian stretched as he walked out to the living room, a nice, full charge making him feel happy and safe. He stopped short when he saw John, tangled in a thin blanket, controller still in hand, the light screen aglow with a small blond, elfish character in a green tunic and a comic sword.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Dorian asked, picking up the army of empty pop cans on the coffee table.

John looked shakily at Dorian, startled by his sudden presence. "What time is it?" his voice cracked out scratchily.

"Seven in the morning," Dorian said, dumping the cans in the recycling in the kitchen. He walked back and inspected the human's red eyes, ringed in dark circles. The DRN's face crumpled with concern.

John dropped the controller to the floor. "This was a mistake," he moaned, rubbing his fingers deep into his eyes in misery. He rose and stretched, shaking out his whole body as if emerging from a cocoon. Walking to the light screen base, he pulled the little game box off the connection pad. He handed it to Dorian and said, "Donate this to the children's hospital. I'm going to bed."

Dorian looked down at the box that read Playstation 14. He nodded and tucked it under his arm, grabbing up the controller. He pulled his coat on and picked up John's keys, all too eager to get rid of the wretched device that turned his husband into an insomniac zombie with a thirst for sugar soda.

John scrubbed his teeth lethargically. He didn't want to, but he forced himself to take a quick shower. He toweled off half-heartedly, slapped his leg on the charging base, and fell sound asleep the moment his still-soaking head hit his pillow.

He dreamt of a big castle, giant spiders, horses, and fairies. In his dream, he was trying so hard to save Dorian from the evil Lord Ganon that he tossed and jerked in his bed.

Dorian dropped the system off at the pediatric wing of the hospital and then went grocery shopping while John slept. John had bought the game system just one day earlier and from the moment he had plugged it in he was transfixed. Dorian hated to admit that he was jealous; he wanted to be the only "hardware" in John's life.

When John woke for a late lunch, Dorian informed him that the hospital was grateful for his donation, leaning one shoulder into the wall.

John shook his still heavy head, thinking around a pinching headache. "Man I haven't played a video game in years. I am too competitive, I guess. I couldn't tear myself away until I beat the damn thing and that's just not worth it." He flipped his grilled cheese sandwich in the pan and smiled at his partner with his eyes. "Not when I could be spending my free time with you, instead."

Dorian came up behind him and wrapped his arms around John's waist, resting the side of his face against the man's broad, warm shoulders. "After lunch, wanna have a sword fight?" he asked suggestively, running one splayed hand down the front of John's cotton pants. Then he jumped back and laughed as John gasped and tried to smack him with the buttery spatula.

John didn't want to wait for lunch. He turned the heat off, tossed the spatula in the sink, and abandoned his food for a far more delicious adventure.