Title: Baby Blue Boy
Author: JR
Archive: yes
Category: First-Time, Romance
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Chan and Hen go to a Halloween party.
Feedback: yes, off list

Outside the wind whispered rushing nonsense as it blew
past the buildings in brief intervals. It was a sneaky
wind. When it passed through a person, they shivered
from its cool unpleasant feeling. The sky was a
radiant blue, sharp and bright.

Inside Henry's apartment, Chandler's fingers curled
around a cold beer. The icy glass numbed his fingers
taking another step towards numbing Chandler's entire
being. His brain had already broken off from the rest
of him, floating in the silent sea of his subconscious
like an isolated iceberg in the Arctic. He pressed the
cold mouth of the beer bottle to his lips and
distantly hoped they would turn blue.

"So it's you and me Friday night, right?"

Chandler turned around after staring at the
refrigerator for a small eternity. "What?"

"You and me at the Halloween party. You know, a few
drinks, check out the freak show-"

"When?"

"Friday night. Man, I think your ears are still
asleep."

"I ever been to this place?"

"I don't know. Just some joint on the scene I go to
once a year. So many folks there it's a mob scene."

"I don't know," Smythe muttered, looking at the beer
bottle.

"Come on, Chan. There's some really cool shit there.
Drugs, drinks and dancin' and sex - all that crazy
shit and you don't know the next motherfucker from
jack. What more could you ask for? I know and what's
more the costumes are outrageous. Why one year this
dude-" McNeil pleaded harder when he noticed his
friend had not looked up from his beer. "Chan, Chan,
Chan, you gotta dress up. Come on, baby. That's the
whole point."

Chandler finally looked at him. "There's never any
cool costumes, Hen. They all suck."

McNeil grinned mischievously. "Oh I can think of
something."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Henry got up and walked over to him. His dark
eyes glittered and Chandler recognized their
seduction. He gripped his cold beer harder, but when
Henry took it away from him, his strong grip was
suddenly gone. McNeil's eyes were incredibly black as
he took hold of the lapels on Chandler's jacket.

"Somethin' blue. Blue's your color, Chan. It's in your
eyes all the time." He brought his lips dangerously
close to Chander's own. "Do you think if I kissed you,
you'd taste blue?"

Chandler's pupils dilated under Henry's intense stare.
The spidery blue pools drained as the black holes in
their center extinguished them. His brain was far
away, but his voice sounded strangely close to his
ears. "Blue tastes like deep drowning. You can't
breathe cause you're blue inside and out. But you
can't live without it."

"Mm... Go on. What else is it like?"

"You think it's cold, but it's hot too. But then
you're numb so it's all the same. You can't ever come
up it's so deep. Do you wanna drown, Henry?"

"I sure as hell do, baby blue boy."

Henry's lips felt like a burning cold and his tongue
brought in more. Chandler cupped his handsome face
with both hands and felt its heat eating through his
cold fingers. The warmth from Henry's fingers barely
penetrated his frozen skull and had no effect on his
back except to bring him closer. Henry's mouth got
hotter and moister and left Chandler with a breathless
burning. He turned his face into McNeil's chest to
recover and the skin where his shirt parted was warm
too.

"My first time tastin' blue and it was everythin' you
said, Chandy. But you didn't say anything about those
lips a' yours. They're such a nice shade of pink after
I kiss 'em."

"Uhhh..." Oh god, he had to get away before Henry's
seduction was complete. Ever since they had met, the
dark charmer had been hypnotizing him with little
touches, loving him with his deep brown honey eyes. He
had given way little by little. He couldn't help it.
His ice world was melting slowly but surely and it was
painful to bear.

He held Henry around the waist and felt his warmth
penetrating his chest, making him feel more loved and
alive than he wanted to feel. He couldn't feel
McNeil's breath, but his muted heartbeat was steady,
beating like a bass drum under water, and Chandler
wanted to listen to it for hours. Just not think about
anything and be comforted. It would be so easy.

"I'm drowning, Henry."

"What?"

"Everything feels so heavy. I think I'm gonna..."

"Chan?"

Chandler listened to Henry's breathing.

"Will you go with me?" Henry entreated.

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

Henry pulled back and took his face in his hands.
Chandler's eyes were huge and distant. His pouty lips
frozen open like the lips of a dead fish. Disturbed,
Henry bent down and kissed him again. His concern grew
when the smaller man returned it somewhat reluctantly.

"Chan, what is it? Where'd you go, man?"

Chandler looked away, but Henry brought his gaze back
with a gentle turn of his hands. "Talk to me, Chan."

"Hen, don't save me."

"Save you from what?" McNeil searched his eyes but
found nothing. "What-"

The black man staggered back into the counter as his
partner leaped up against him and clung to him hard.
Barely keeping his balance, it was all he could do to
tuck an arm under Chandler's bottom and wrap the other
tightly around his back.

"Chandler, what the hell? Aww, damn, man, your shoes
are killin' my ass. Hold still." He moved away from
the counter and held his squirming partner a little
tighter.

"Noo..." Chandler kissed him and thrust his tongue
into his mouth, exploring it relentlessly.

Henry kissed him back even more fiercely, battling his
tongue and tugging at his plump lips. His instant
hard-on threatened to jump out of his pants.

"Chan... Mm... Your lips are trembling." He gentled
his kisses, but Chandler kept on passionately.
"Somethin'... You alright?"

Chandler whimpered and rocked his hips against Henry's
own. He desperately wanted Henry to drown his thoughts
out. His trembling lips were failing him, but he kept
on kissing his partner, needing every kiss he got
back.

Henry groaned as Chandler mussed his hair. Chandler
had never touched his hair before and the sensation
was extremely pleasurable. Chandler's cock poked him
in the stomach and he felt himself get even harder.

The smaller man tore his mouth away for a deep breath
and squeaked when Henry kissed him so soon he almost
didn't get that breath.

"Ya know what I wanna do to you, Chan?"

"Wha..."

"Kiss you forever, suck your shooter and fuck you all
at the same time."

 "Uuuu..."

"And then you can do the same fucking thing to me
because you feel like a supercharged crack hit. Uuu,
motherfucker."

Their lips were puffy and bruised and they shuddered
and moaned as they teased and tortured each other,
rubbing their bodies together as best they could in
their tight clench.

"Mm, come on, man. Right over here, baby." Henry
turned around and put him on the counter.

"Noo!" Chandler gasped and let go, accidentally
banging the back of his head on a cabinet.

"Dammit, Chan, what the hell are you- Come here."
McNeil grabbed him again and cupped the back of his
head.

"Aww, dammit." Smythe wanted to rub the back of his
aching head and struggled to get away from his
partner.

"Whatcha doin', huh? Bout busted that cute little head
open. Come on now. It's okay, Chan." McNeil held him
tighter as he realized Smythe was really upset. "Shhh.
It's okay now, baby. Shh," he cooed gently in Chan's
ear and felt him stop struggling. It pleased Henry to
know he had that effect on Chandler.

"What the hell's gotten into you, man?" McNeil
questioned softly, brushing his lips against Chan's
ear.

Chandler squirmed. "Stop, Henry."

"Why'd you stop, Chan?" Henry traced the curve of
Chandler's ear with his lips.

"I didn't mean..." Chandler shivered and gritted his
teeth against the trembling sensations that were
coursing through his body. His ear was too damn
sensitive to Henry's mouth.

"Hm? What's wrong, Chan?" Henry's long slender fingers
brushed Chandler's elegant spikes. "Hm, baby?"

Chandler tried to hide his ear from Henry's mouth, but
Henry slipped his tongue into his sensitive canal
before he could get away and Chandler gasped as more
shivers spiraled down to his stomach.
 
"Mm, such sweet little treasures. Mm," he nibbled on
Smythe's earlobe.

"Hen," Chandler moaned as the other man licked the
skin beneath his earlobe causing Chandler to press
himself tighter against Henry's body.

"Mm, you're so sensitive. So sweetly sensitive," he
murmured before he kissed his swollen lips. He pressed
his tongue against Chan's bottom lip enjoying its lush
plumpness.

He gazed into Chan's blue eyes for a moment. "What,
baby, hm? So you didn't wanna go all the way, huh?
That's cool. I'm alright with that. But you didn't
have to hurt yourself. Just tell me to slow down next
time, man, kay? Although," he kissed the back of
Chan's right ear, "you were insatiable when we were
kissin'. What happened?"

Chandler tried to pull away. "I don't know. I can't
explain it. You didn't do anything, Henry."

"That's the problem. But it's okay, baby. I don't
understand you sometimes, Chan, but I ain't pressin'
it as long as you're still with me. You with me?"

Chandler was glad for the temporary escape. "Yeah."

"Still comin' with me on Friday?"

"Yeah."
 
Henry smiled at him and gave him a gentle kiss on the
lips. He helped the smaller man hop off the counter
gracefully.

"Wait a minute, Chan. Where you goin'?" Henry grabbed
his hand.

"To get a costume. Come with me. You can get one too."

"Uh, I already got mine."

"Oh, you do, huh? What's it look like?"

"Something black. Nothin' too exciting."

Smythe's mouth curved up evilly. "Uh-huh. We'll see
who has the more outrageous costume."

Chandler turned to leave, but Henry hugged him from
behind and kissed the back of his head.

"What's that for?"

"Come on, Chan, haven't you ever had someone kiss your
owies?"

Chandler giggled. "Oh."

***

Smythe knew exactly where to find the costume he
wanted and after that was taken care of he drove to
the cemetery. It was always quiet there and usually
empty. Sometimes when he needed to think or just have
some time alone, he went there. Sometimes, he walked
among the graves for hours. Other times, he stood
before his wife's grave lost in thought. Now he stood
before the familiar headstone, the inscription on it
long forgotten.

"I thought I was going to see you after I died. Always
figured I would. I didn't really think much about it.
I just figured that when I did die, I'd be with you
again. Stupid me. I die and look what happens. I'm
still here."

Chandler sighed and rubbed a hand through his hair.

"I miss you. I miss Ben. Don't get to see either one
of you. Well, Ben sometimes. Some life. Stuck fighting
Morlocks in an organization that doesn't give a shit
about its agents."

A soft smile came to his lips.

"Then this tall black guy comes along and I'm lost. I
think you'd like him. His ego's the size of Mount
Rushmore, but he's cool, ya know? Drives me crazy with
that mouth of his. That smartass sensual hot damn
mouth of his has never failed him yet. I've come to
trust him and he always reassures me. No matter how
bad the situation is, he looks on the bright side,
always says we'll be okay. I need that.

"I love him too and I think he loves me, but I don't
know if it's enough. Oh not on his part. He's come
after me like Romeo. I mean me. I couldn't handle it
if he died and left me. Sometimes late at night, when
I'm lying in bed, I want him to come and hold me so
badly it hurts to breathe. That's how much I need him
and it scares me. If he died, I'd be worse off than
I've ever been in my whole life. And being as isolated
as I am I'd get caress and end up a fucking Morlock or
worse be left to die somewhere. This life sucks."

Chandler looked away and when he looked back at the
headstone again his eyes were unfocused. "I can't hold
on anymore, hunny. I'm sorry."

***

"Come on in," Chandler yelled from his bathroom after
Henry knocked on the door.

McNeil flopped down on the bed and stretched. "I'm
gone do some dancin' tonight. Whatever the man has on,
I'm gone be jivin' to it. Yeah baby."

Chandler laughed.

"I heard that, Chan. You laughin' now, but I know I'm
gonna see that fine booty a' yours snake dancin'."

"Mmhm."

Chandler applied a small dab of lip gloss to the
middle of his lower lip and stepped out. He raised his
eyebrows when he caught site of H on the bed. If it
was Henry McNeil's intention to become a pimp, he had
everything down pat. His long lean legs were gloved in
black leather and a long wide strip of black velvet
revealed the bulge between his legs. Chandler felt
himself becoming aroused just looking at it. McNeil
sat up on his elbows and Chandler noticed his black
leather sleeveless vest that was held together by a
small metal chain. The red feather boa around his neck
reminded Chandler of an exotic snake and he found
himself looking at his succulent lips thinking of how
good they tasted earlier.

"Damn, Chan. You are beautiful, man. Where'd you get
that costume?"

"It's a secret."

Chandler was dressed in a baby blue velvet suit cut
after the style Napoleon wore. The jacket ended in the
front at the waist and the tails in the back just
reached the backs of his knees. Gold trim adorned the
oversized cuffs, the collar and the lapels. The cuffs
of a rumpled white shirt peaked out about an inch from
the rich jacket cuffs covering most of Chandler's
hands. His velvet pants ended just over his knees and
hugged his lower body in all the right places. There
was a scandalous element to the bareness of his lower
legs and feet.

"Look at you, Chan. Damn, I'm afraid to even touch
you. You ain't one of those fairies that comes to a
guy in his dreams are you?"

"Why don't you touch me and find out."

Henry got up off the bed and walked toward Chandler
with the grace of a black panther. Chandler swallowed
as he felt Henry's burning arm wrap itself around his
waist. The taller man's fiery black eyes lapped at him
hungrily.

"You are so beautiful in blue," Henry murmured. "So
beautiful..." He slid his silver nail-polished fingers
through Chandler's silky brown spikes that stood up on
his head like peacock's feathers.

Chandler's blush brought a soft pink tinge to his
cheeks and he closed his eyes letting Henry see his
long blue lashes that blanketed his cheeks like
icicles. Henry turned his chin up and kissed him
softly. "You still taste blue. Damn, you're so fine! I
won't be able to keep my eyes off you the rest of the
night."

Chandler smiled and his eyes twinkled beneath his
lashes. "So am I real or a fairy?"

"Both."

Chandler's white teeth flashed in a grin and he
laughed. The sound was like bells to Henry's ears and
he laughed too.

***

The huge club pulsed with energy and multi-colored
flashes of light. The music was rocking and the two
men went wild. Chandler thought Henry looked
absolutely splendid in his costume and red devil horns
which went with a long black tail that had a red
velvet point on the end. He took the opportunity to
grind his ass into Henry's dick while Lenny Kravitz
asked "Are You Gonna Go My Way". Henry clamped an arm
around his waist and moved their hips together rubbing
himself into his partner's fine ass.

The lights dimmed and a slowly spinning pool of light
faintly covered the dark shapes on the dance floor. A
shower of fine white glitter sprayed down from the
ceiling as the gentle beginning of "Angel" by Gavin
Friday wafted through the air. The dancers moved
slowly, but Henry and Chandler stood still, lost in
each other's gaze. Chandler was sure that Henry was
the prince of love. He was gorgeous in red and
glitter, shining like a galaxy.

Henry was mesmerized by Chandler. He was more
beautiful than anything he'd ever seen or imagined. He
was ethereal, heavenly. His glittering white skin
provided a radiant background for his sapphire eyes
that sparkled beneath glitter-sprinkled blue lashes.
And then there were his voluptuous lips which
presented Henry with a diamond placed exactly where
the glitter had stuck to his gloss.

Chandler took hold of Henry's arms feeling their heat
flood his skin and leaned up slowly getting closer and
closer to his lush ripe lips. Henry put his hands on
Chandler's waist and met him the rest of the way.
Chandler was cool and sweet running deep into Henry's
scorching depths like a drop of ice water. When
Chandler pulled away his eyes were heavy and Henry's
dark ones looked glazed. The glitter continued to
float down on them.

Angel, hold on to me.

Chandler leaned up close. "Hen, let's get out of
here," he whispered.

Henry followed the blue apparition numbly with only a
firm grip on his hand to prove he was real.

When they got outside, Chandler turned and looked up
at him. "I wanna go dancing in the moonlight. I know
it sounds kinda crazy, but I'd like to."

Henry was surprised, but couldn't think of anything
more perfect for his piece of blue light to do. "I got
just the thing."

"You do?"

"Old Mace gave me a copy of the key to the roof way
back. We'll have the whole roof top to ourselves."

"Amazing how these things work out."

They drove back to the Ravenswood and took the
elevator to the top floor. Henry unlocked a heavy door
that opened to a short flight of stairs. The next door
opened up to the night sky. Chandler walked all over
the roof before going back to a beam of moonlight.

Henry felt like he was in a dream as he watched
Chandler dissolve into the pale white light. He walked
up and took his hand. Then he kissed it. "Do you wanna
dance now?"

"Yes, close."

"As you wish."

They held each other and rocked back and forth slowly.

"I feel like I haven't been with you all week yet I'm
with you all the time almost," Henry said.

"I wish we'd come up here before."

"Well now we can come up here anytime you want."

The warmth of his words tore at Chandler's heart.

"You're so warm."

"That's cause you're so cold. I've never met anyone
who stays as cold as you, Chan. But that's okay cause
now I get to snuggle you."

"Mm," Chandler grinned.

"You are so beautiful."

"That's the millionth time you've said that tonight."

Henry pulled back and took Chandler's hand. "And I
could say it a million times more." He got down on one
knee and kissed the hand he still held. "Does this
bother you?"

For a second Chandler was afraid, but then he relaxed.
"No."

"I just want to worship you with my eyes." Henry gazed
up at his fine baby blue boy and saw a hint of sadness
in his eyes. He was so delicate looking it seemed the
slightest word or emotion would shatter his blue
fragility. "I saw blue and my heart bled."

"What?"

"When I see you I think tears are going to start
sliding down my cheeks. I feel love for you. When I
touch you I wanna cry inside."

Chandler began to crumble inside and his voice
betrayed him. "Don't, Henry."

"Please, Chan. I can't stop. You're lovely, you're my
magic. And if I ever had to stop seeing you this way
it'd be too soon."

A single tear disturbed the crystal skin of Chandler's
cheek and he covered Henry's hand with his own.
"Henry, don't say that."

Henry got up and cupped Chandler's face in both hands.
"May I kiss you, beautiful one?"

"Yes."

Chandler shivered as Henry's warm lips melted against
his own.

"I'm in love with you, Chan."

"I'm in love with you too, Hen."

"Can we finish what we started earlier?"

"What was that?"

"I wanna make love to your fine beautiful self. Then I
wanna watch you sleep. Then I wanna hold you all night
and feel your breath against my skin. I'd like to do
that every night."

Chandler's heart beat sped up. That's exactly what he
wanted Henry to do. If only H knew how bad he wanted
it. "Henry, I-"

"No-no-no, baby, I ain't done yet." McNeil dark eyes
creased with the emotions he was dealing with. "I've
seen your heart get broken. You've had more than your
fair share of heartache and I wanna end all that. When
you were gonna give Le Fay the Corps roster just to
get me back, I was amazed. No one but you woulda done
that. That's one thing I love about you, Chan. You got
heart. And you got a hell-of-a-lotta guts and hell if
we ain't the best together that ever was. But
sometimes when I see you, I just wanna grab you up and
run. Something about you makes me wanna protect you. I
know that ain't always fair or right, but you're my
partner and I love you. You've got this power over me.
I can't resist you, Chan. I feel miserable without
you. I have to be with you. I-"

Henry got down on one knee again and kissed the
knuckles on Chan's left hand, breathing in the scent
of his skin. "Chan, I'm yours forever and I want you
to be mine. Will you?"

McNeil waited nervously for his answer. He hadn't
planned to ask this tonight, but it had just naturally
happened. How could he have picked a better time
anyway? Seeing Chandler in the moonlight, glowing like
blue crystal under a bright light, looking pure,
exquisite, soft and delicate, needing such tender
words because he thrived on words, he was meant to be
romanced with sweet words.

"Yes."

"What?" Henry could hardly believe his ears.

"Yes, Hen, I will."

Henry's face glowed with such joy that Chandler
grinned back. Henry leapt to his feet and swung
Chandler around in a tight embrace. They shared a
passionate kiss and Chandler almost lost his flip
flops.

"You make me so happy, Chan." Henry set him back down
on his feet. "Mm," Henry kissed him again.

"Wooo," Chandler chuckled and bounced up and down
happily.

Henry took hold of both of his hands. "I don't have
anything special to give you."

"Me neither."

"I was going to get you this sapphire ring." He
watched Chandler's eyes widen. "I know it's kinda
old-fashioned, but-"

"I think that's really sweet, Hen."

"You do?"

"Well, yeah."

Henry glanced down shyly. "At least have something to
give you. Wait, what time is it? I could run down to
the florist and get you a rose. My baby's gotta have a
rose."

"Hen, Hen," Chandler grinned, tugging on his hands,
"it's okay. I'd much rather you stay here with me."

"You sure? It'll just take a second."

"Hen-"

"Okay, okay, but I am gonna get you something soon, I
promise."

Chandler shook his head and grinned up at him. "I love
you."

Henry got down on his knees and gazed up at Chandler
solemnly.

"Henry, what are you doing?"

"With the stars as my witness, I give my love and
myself to thee."

"Oh, Hen."

He gently took each of Chandler's hands and kissed the
palms. He pressed the side of his face into Chandler's
stomach and held onto him like he was never going to
let go.

Chandler felt fragile in his position; he'd never been
loved the way Henry was loving him. It was so tender
and sweet. He felt safe and vulnerable at the same
time. He bowed his head and closed his eyes,
concentrating on the feel of Henry's body against his
own. He listened to Henry's sigh of pleasure as he
spread his hands in his soft silky fro and brought
them to rest on the back of his neck.

"Henry, did you plan this?"

"Naw, just came out. I'd been planning on asking you
soon, but I hadn't figured out exactly when I was
gonna do it."

"I'd fall down if you weren't holding me up."

McNeil got up and wrapped his arms around him again.
"I feel ya. Chan, you're the first person I've ever
asked. I wanted you to know that."

"I'm the first?"

"And the last. You got a hold on me, baby," Henry
crooned.

"Don't try any of that stuff on me, Henry McNeil,"
Chandler grinned.

"Aw, baby, you know I gotta sing my love to you." His
brown eyes were dancing. "Beautiful baby, stay in my
love." He ended the short ballad with a chuckle and a
kiss.

Chandler laughed and his eyes crinkled up happily.

"Come on." Henry took his hand and led him over to an
upraised metal structure big enough for two or three
people to sit on. He sat down and pulled Chandler into
his lap.

"You can see a lot better up here," Chandler observed
after sitting quietly for a spell and gazing up and
out. He felt Henry's chest move against his back with
each breath and he turned his face towards McNeil's
neck for comfort.

"Yeah, I've come up here over the years. Especially
when I didn't want anyone to find me at my place at
night."

"You warm enough, Hen?"

"Yeah." Henry held Chandler covetously. "This is the
best."

Chandler shifted after a few minutes. "Hm, someone's
hard and making my seat damn uncomfortable."

"Sure about that?" Henry purred as he felt Chandler's
hard cock.

"Mmhm, I think we ought to do something about it."

"You read my mind, baby."

Several minutes later, naked in his own room, Chandler
moaned as Henry deep-throated him. It was almost too
much to bear - the exquisite pressure of Henry's lips
combined with the soft heat of his mouth. McNeil
released his tight hold on his hips and Chandler
immediately thrust back and forth gently, trying to
hold on a little longer. It was such sweet heaven.
"Damn," he moaned as his load shot down Henry's
throat.

"Mm. Wish that had lasted longer, baby?" Henry
murmured as he stood up and pulled Chandler against
him.

"Oh, yes, your mouth was making me insane," Chandler
sighed and kissed his lover.

"Mm," Henry's hands cupped his ass, "I think it's time
we moved to the shower so I can make you more insane."

"Yes," Chandler groaned, "yes, let's go."

Soon, hot water was spraying against Chandler's side
and Henry was fucking him slow and deep.

"Baby, baby," Henry cooed in his ear over and over
again, holding him covetously.

"Hen," Chandler growled as every thrust made him feel
more full, more complete, more loved than he had ever
felt with anyone before. He clenched his ass, trying
to make Henry push harder.

"Yes, baby, yes," Henry shuddered and impaled him
thoroughly, pushing faster and harder until they were
both sobbing with deep need. Henry buried himself in
Chandler's lush orifice and held on tightly as he came
inside his lover, losing himself in his hot wet body.
Chandler rested his forehead against the shower wall,
sighing softly, savoring the intense feeling of
belonging that he felt with Henry. Henry's breathe
rustled in his ear.

"You are so beautiful, I don't want to leave you,
Chan."

"Then, don't."

Henry stroked his stomach and kissed the drops of
water away from the side of his face.

"Aw, baby, baby, you make me want you so bad. I love
you."

"Hen, I need you, I need you. I really do," Chandler
moaned, finally voicing his painful thoughts. "Don't
ever leave me."

"I'd never do that, baby, never, just you and me all
the way," Henry reassured, nuzzling his ear.

Chandler held tightly to the arms that were wrapped
around him and when Henry finally pulled out, he
turned around and kissed him deeply.

"You are so beautiful when you kiss," Henry murmured
and ran his fingers over Chandler's cheek and jaw.

"Hen, I have a present for you."

"What is it?"

"Close your eyes."

"Chandler..." It was nearly impossible to keep his
eyes closed with Chandler's lips kissing him all over
his body. He tried to plant his fingers in Smythe's
wet hair, but he was moving around too much. "Baby,
your lips undo me. Mm..."

"You can open your eyes now, Hen."

And when he did Chandler was right there against him,
looking up at him sweetly.

He wrapped him up in his arms and stared down into the
eyes he found so wonderfully expressive. "Don't think
I could ever stay away from you for long, Chan."

"Feeling's mutual."

"Let's get in the bed, man."

"Tired already?" Chandler grinned evilly.

"No," Henry chuckled and hugged him a little tighter,
"but I'm tired of standing up and beds are so much
more cozy."

"Mm."

Leaving the lamp on, the two men settled close
together in Chandler's bed.

"The pants were pretty outrageous, Hen."

"Think so?" Henry chuckled.

"Wear them for me tomorrow night."

"Just them?"

"Yeah, I didn't get to play with that tail."

"Oooo, your daddy will be in the house tomorrow
night."

Chandler punched Henry lightly in the stomach.

"Damn, Chan," Henry complained, but kissed his
knuckles and chuckled lustily as he bit them tenderly.
"Mm..."

"Hen, come here." Chandler pulled the larger man on
top of him and kissed him, relishing the comfort he
felt from having Henry's weight on him.

"Let's go to my place tomorrow night. You wear your
blue suit and I'll meet you at the door in my pants."

"You're on."

McNeil slid off and put an arm and a leg over Chandler
after the smaller man curled up on his side.

"Night, Hen."

"Goodnight, Chan," the gentle black man murmured close
to his ear.

***

Chandler stayed secure in his happiness, but gradually
the sorrow that had plagued him since he had returned
from the dead came back to occupy his thoughts. His
insecurities led him to convince himself that Henry
might even leave him someday whether it was for a man
or a woman. Then there was the threat of Henry's death
which Chandler feared now more than ever since he was
married to the man. He couldn't stand thinking about
it anymore.

Chandler looked himself over one last time. His pale
white skin glowed against his baby blue outfit. He was
too far gone to notice the emptiness of his eyes; eyes
that looked more like blue glass. He added some more
gloss to the middle of his bottom lip. Henry had
really liked that. He had sprinkled his hair with
glitter and put on the blue mascara again.

 Satisfied, he swallowed two sleeping pills. The pills
he used to take when he had worked too long and he
couldn't sleep without help. Well, maybe just one
more. He didn't want to stay awake too long. The
alcohol helped some too. This time he wouldn't have to
worry about waking up. He turned the water on and lay
down in the tub, placing the heavy brick on his
stomach and resting his arms at his sides. The surface
was hard and uncomfortable on his head and neck, but
he wasn't worried. The pills and the water would take
care of that. As he nodded off, he was vaguely aware
that the water had risen to the tips of his ears.

McNeil unlocked the door to Smythe's room and walked
in.

"Chan?"

The windows were open and a light breeze was blowing
in.

"Chan? What's up, man? I called, but you didn't
answer. Chan?" McNeil had changed out of his black
leather pants and into some regular clothes.

He heard the water running and smiled. Maybe his
partner had prepared a romantic bubble bath for two.
He sauntered into the bathroom with a sexy quip on his
lips and froze. A bare calf and foot hung over the
side of the tub and water was flowing down onto the
floor. Terrified, he ran over and looked down upon
Chandler, his face serene beneath the water, his long
dark spikes floating around his head like a halo. The
glitter from his hair floated in the water like tiny
crystals. It was such a horrible and striking image,
that Henry realized he had been staring at him for
precious seconds.

"Aw, baby blue boy..."

He turned the water off and lifted him out hastily
after removing the brick carefully. He laid the
lifeless body on the floor and started CPR
immediately.

"Come on, baby. Come back to me," Henry pleaded with
tears running down his cheeks. "Chandler, please,
baby, please."

Over and over Henry breathed warm breaths into his
cold mouth, hoping for a miracle. "No, Chan, no. Not
like this, baby boy."

Chandler coughed once and then several times, bringing
up all the water in his lungs. Henry rolled him onto
his side and patted his back gently. Chandler's eyes
opened and when he realized who was with him he
inhaled sharply and whined sadly. He sobbed once as he
felt Henry's arms pick him up and press him to his
chest. He still wasn't dead and now Henry had seen his
failed suicide. McNeil was upset and he dreaded trying
to explain why he wanted to kill himself.

"That's it, that's it," Henry soothed, clutching his
cold wet body tightly against his chest. "Chandler,
Chandler, oh, baby..." He rocked him rapidly,
deliriously glad to feel Chandler's warm breath
against his neck.

Henry was so warm and being rocked for so long made it
difficult to be depressed. Chandler started to feel
secure again. Maybe Henry wouldn't leave him, maybe he
could go on fighting Morlocks.

"Why, Chan?" He finally asked, after he couldn't rock
the smaller man anymore.

Chandler barely shrugged.

"Because of me? Don't you know I love you?"

"No, Hen, it was something else."

"What?"

"I can't tell you." His voice was ragged. "It might
change. I just don't know right now."

Henry's dark eyes squinted in confusion. "I don't
understand."

Chandler didn't look at him.

"Tell me, Chan. I can't go on not knowing. My heart
was breaking thinking I might have had to go on
without you. Chandler, please."

Chandler could not bear to watch Henry cry. "Everybody
I love dies, Hen. First my mom and then my dad and
then Bonnie. It hurts even worse to think you might be
next."

"Chan, I'm not gonna die. I'm already dead."

"But what if you got killed on an assignment? I just
know it's going to happen."

"You don't know that, Chan. We just might die
together. Who knows? But the most important thing
right now is for us to be together while we're here.
We're probably gonna be stuck fighting evil for a long
time and that means plenty of time for us. I'm not
leaving you, baby boy. I gave my love to you and that
can overpower anything, no matter what happens. Do you
believe that?"

"Yeah, I guess I really do."

"Chan, I love you. Please stay with me."

"You're not gonna leave me?"

"No, baby, never. I said forever and I meant it."

"Not even for someone else one day?"

"Oh, baby," Henry sighed sadly and kissed him softly.
"You think I'd ask you to marry me and then leave you?
I'd never play you like that, Chan. I'm sorry for not
reassuring you enough. But I ain't thinking about
anyone else. I love you, just you."

"Okay, Hen," he croaked, reassured.

"Beautiful baby, stay in my love," Henry sang softly.

Henry's eyes were warm and he kissed his partner's
cool lips and slid his fingertips over the pulse in
his neck reassuring himself that Chan was really
alive. He'd come way too close to losing him. He spent
the next few minutes loving and warming Chandler's
face, nuzzling and kissing, keeping him embedded in
the warm nest of his arms.

Chandler yawned and snuggled a little further down in
Henry's arms. He felt sleepy and thought about how
good it would be to spend the night in Henry's arms
again.

"Ready to get outta those wet clothes?"

"Mmhm."

Henry helped him up and Chandler stripped off his wet
costume and dried off. Henry tossed him a pair of
clean underwear. He put them on and watched his
partner close the balcony doors and pull the blinds
down. Chandler got in bed and watched Henry take off
his clothes.

"Gotta get you warm," Henry said and got in under the
covers with him.

Henry seemed to know just what he wanted because he
spooned behind him and snuggled close. Henry's warmth
was soothing and Chandler felt secure, comfortable
with abandoning his suicidal thoughts in the sanctuary
of his embrace.

The End