What Happens At Cons

Ralph opened the door when he heard Bill knock, and waved him in.

Bill trailed behind him, both men sitting at the end of the bed, looking at TV.

After a moment, Bill asked, looking forward, “You okay, kid?”

“God, yes, Billy,” Ralph said, not turning to face him.

Both men knew that if they looked at one another, sitting on the bed, they wouldn’t be able to resist touching again, and Kevin could literally walk in any second.

“Got the suit on?”

“No, I thought it would be wise to leave it off for a while. I need to focus my attention on Kevin, and if you and I touch, even for a second, I get too distracted.”

Ralph felt a bit guilty about their late supper a few hours before, when he was so enraptured with this new bond and understanding with Bill, he wasn’t giving his son the attention he deserved.

Bill nodded his head in understanding.

Neither spoke for a moment, and Bill pointed to the screen. “Oh, okay, I know this episode! It’s the one with the tribbles, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it just started. Not a tribble in sight yet.”

They relaxed where they sat, watching the popular Star Trek episode. About five minutes into the show, they heard the key in the door.

Kevin came in, looking very tired. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey, Kev. Boy, you look tired!”

Kevin moved to his bed, threw his con packet and D&D supplies down, and proceeded to empty his uniform pockets.

“I’m exhausted.”

“Well, why don’t you take that off, and get into bed. Bill and I just started watching this. It won’t bother you, will it?”

“A nuclear strike wouldn’t bother me right now.”

Bill remained silent as the younger Hinkley cut in front of them to the bathroom. He returned shortly, cleaned up for bed and in shorts and undershirt. He carefully lay his uniform on the chair so it wouldn’t wrinkle, crawled under the light blanket, and within seconds was snoring.

The two men looked at one another, amazed that Kevin could pass out so quickly. The rhythmic soft snoring confirmed he was indeed deeply asleep.

Ralph touched the back of his finger to Bill’s face, feeling the stubbly shadow of beard, looking between eyes and mouth.

“Bill….” he whispered, conveying to his partner that he had no problem with returning to Bill’s room and picking up where they left off.

Bill looked past Ralph to Kevin, then leaned over onto one hand, bending to whisper in Ralph’s ear, “Ralph, I can’t tell you how much I’d love to continue, but you’ll kill me if I don’t get some rest!”

Ralph, whose heart raced at Bill’s closeness, nodded his head, afraid to answer. He closed his eyes, reliving what had happened in the shower not moments before. His body began reacting, and he crossed his legs.

“What, again?” Bill asked softly, chuckling, his mouth centimeters from Ralph’s ear and neck.

“God, Bill, I want you so much, I… God, I can’t believe I’m saying this… I want you in me.”

Bill bowed his head with a sharp intake of breath. “Kid, keep that up….”

“I want to, I told you.”

Bill stood, effectively ending Ralph’s subtle pleading. He bent over one last time, speaking very softly, gazing directly into Ralph’s eyes, “Kid, I really really can’t. When we hit that milestone, I want both of us to be ready for it. Trust me on this one.”

He glanced again at Kevin, then dared to touch his mouth to Ralph’s, giving him a soft, gentle and quick kiss good night.

Ralph said farewell by brushing his hand down Maxwell’s arm, and his best friend and partner silently slipped out the door.

The next day, Bill, Ralph and Kevin took time to stroll around the various convention rooms, panels, the art show and dealers room. Kevin and Ralph were in their costumes, but Bill opted for his blue jeans, favorite t-shirt, green vest and comfortable sandals.

“Hey, I’m comfortable, I’m relaxing!” Bill told Ralph when his best friend looked him up and down. He paused a moment, and when Kevin looked away for a second, Bill winked at Ralph and added, “Besides, I’ll have the kilt on tomorrow night, when Prince Ra presents me to court at the masquerade.”

A glow crept up Ralph’s fair cheeks, and he coughed, looking away from Bill’s playful countenance. He had to focus on his son during the day, till he could get rid of him for hours on end again.

“Any gaming tonight, Kev?” he asked as the three went table to table in the dealers room, looking at the wares for sale.

“It’s in about 45 minutes, actually, Dad. I wanted to look at the dice in here first, and then I was going to get out of my uniform, grab my D&D stuff and head over.”

“When’d you eat last?”

“About six hours ago I think.”

“Well, come on, we’ve got time to grab something before you have to get ready.”

Kevin turned toward the exit, and while he led the way through the throng of con goers, Ralph used it as a chance to lean toward Bill. “He’ll be gone for hours, Bill. We can go back to your room in about an hour, after we eat and he gets his stuff.”

Bill said back, very softly, “Why don’t you two go on ahead, then? I saw some stuff here I wanted to look at, and you don’t want the kid seeing me get it.”

“Oh, God, Bill, what is it?”

A mischievous gleam was in Maxwell’s eyes. “Wait and see.”

He looked at Kevin’s back as they slowly followed him, and dared to brush his finger softly along Ralph’s jaw. He said so softly, it was like he was mouthing it, “You won’t be disappointed, Ralphie.”

Ralph nodded, gulping at the same time, thinking, FOCUS, Hinkley, it’s all about Kev right now, till he’s busy.

The hour couldn’t pass fast enough. Ralph knew Kevin didn’t want to waste time, so they both shared a light conversation while eating as fast as courtesy allowed.

When they returned to their hotel room, Ralph kicked back on his bed and checked the three convention video channels. Kevin emerged from the bathroom, freshened up for hours of roleplaying, and wearing comfortable jeans, sneakers and t-shirt.

“Feels good to be out of that uniform!” he said, putting his D&D supplies in a pile on the biggest book, topping it off with a bag of dice.

He turned to the TV. “What’s this?”

“The Day the Earth Stood Still. It’s a classic.”

“You going to watch this? Where’s Bill?”

“I don’t know,” Ralph answered honestly.

“What, you two actually go your separate ways sometimes?”

“Kev, you’ve been with your mom too long. Bill and I do NOT spend every waking moment together, you know.”

Kevin didn’t say anything, just stood there watching his father watching the movie. Ralph became conscious of the scrutiny, and turned to look at his son.

“What?”

“Dad…” he started, but couldn’t continue.

“What, son?” Ralph answered quietly, knowing that whatever Kevin wanted to say, it was something very sensitive to the boy.

“Dad….” Kevin sighed in exasperation, then started again. “Dad, think about it. Since you’ve known Bill, how often have just YOU and I done anything together, without him?”

Ralph thought about it, and realized Kevin was right. “You know, I never realized it, Kev. I’m sorry. How come you don’t like Bill?”

“I don’t HATE him, Dad, he just drives me crazy sometimes, calling me ‘kid’ and ‘sport’ and everything.”

“Kevin, that’s just how he is! He calls me ‘kid’ and ‘kiddo’ all the time!”

“Dad, the way you two act, I wonder… um… gawd, this is tough.”

“What, Kev? Surely there’s nothing you can’t ask me.”

“Dad, just how close are you and Bill?”

It was bad enough Ralph had to hide the suit from his son, for his own safety if for no other reason, but outside of that, he’d vowed never to hide anything from his boy, or sugarcoat the truth if asked. So this was it: he had to talk to him.

“Kev, you probably know by now that Bill and I work on some of his FBI cases, right?”

“Yeah, took me a while, but I figured it out, from listening to you guys, and him mentioning this ‘uit-say’ and all, even though I can’t figure out what the hell THAT is!”

“Watch the language. Well, Bill and I, we’ve gotten into some dangerous situations before. He’s risked his life for me, and I’ve done the same for him.”

“You HAVE? Dad, he’s a pro, you’re not! You’re going to get HURT” The panic on Kevin’s face almost made Ralph tell Kevin about the suit, to assure him he was in no danger… but that wasn’t necessarily true. He’d been knocked out while WEARING the suit! He wasn’t invulnerable.

Then there was the time he took a slug meant for Bill, when he wasn’t in the suit.

“I wish I could tell you more, son, but I can’t. Not about what Bill and I do when we’re working on his cases to catch bad guys. National security and all, like he’d say, but it’s true.”

“And that’s how CLOSE you two are? That’s it?”

Ralph didn’t respond; he merely looked at his son, the boy’s open and eager expression melting his heart. He’s a good kid, Ralph thought. He’ll understand. I’ve got to tell him, give him something if I can’t give him the secret of the suit.

“That comment you made yesterday, about being an L.A. kid, nothing phases you. What did you mean by it, Kevin? And that look you gave me at the house?”

It was Kevin’s turn to panic. Oh gawd, he thought. How does he tell his dad that he thinks he might be gay?

Better to flat-out ask. His father had always been cool with intimate questions in the past, no reason to change now.

“Okay, Dad, I want to know something.”

“What?”

“Are you gay?”

Ralph’s blue eyes went wide, but he didn’t respond immediately with an indignant, NO! where’d you get that from??

Kevin knew by the lack of response that his father was putting together an answer.

Ralph cleared his throat, looking down for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “Well, Kev, you’re here, aren’t you? Obviously your mother and I felt an attraction to one another.”

“That not an answer, Dad.”

“Then the answer is ‘no,’ I am not homosexual.”

Kevin didn’t answer for a moment, then asked, “Are you sure? You and Bill….”

“He’s not homosexual either.”

Ralph’s heart raced, hoping and praying that his 15 year old son had no idea what “bisexual” meant. Because he was now convinced that was what he and Bill were, if for nobody else then one another.

“So you two, um… you two have never had sex, right? With one another?” Kevin asked with such confidence, that it was obvious he was simply seeking verbal assurance.

Again, when his father didn’t reply immediately, Kevin knew he’d been correct.

“Kev, this is difficult, but I always told myself I wouldn’t lie to you. Yes, he and I have been intimate, physically and more.”

“Oh, God, Dad,” Kevin said, rolling his eyes.

“Kev, c’mon, you said you’re the L.A. kid, nothing phases you. Does any of this really surprise you?”

It was Kevin’s turn to pause, then he said, with a soft laugh, “No, I guess it doesn’t, Dad. It just confirms what I’ve thought for months and months.”

“Really? Because it’s a fairly recent development, Kev.”

“Wow, no kidding? But you two are always so touchy-feely and all.”

“We’re best friends and partners, Kevin, we’re open with one another. I’m about the only person Bill can be completely himself around, even more so now that he and I have this understanding.”

Kevin nodded his head. He leaned over to pick up the D&D supplies he’d set down, and looked at his dad.

“Okay, I understand then, Dad. I’m glad you cleared that up, so I’m not wondering any more. But can I ask one more thing?”

“Sure, son.”

“Are you, uh, HAPPY with him? God, I can’t believe I just asked that.”

Ralph laughed. “Yes, I am. I can be myself around him, too, no secrets between us. Ever. Just like you and me.” It pained him to fib like that, but he knew he’d never be able to tell Kevin about the suit; his son could be the target of those who’d seek to hurt Ralph and Bill.

“So it won’t REALLY be any different for the three of us, me knowing now what’s going on? Besides, living with Mom like I do most of the time, not like I’m around all the time.”

“No, shouldn’t be any different, really. But I’ll tell you what: I’ll make it clear to Bill, and you too, that when you ARE visiting from Mom’s, you’ll be my entire focus of attention, okay? Bill can go on one of his fishing trips or something, and you and I can do stuff around L.A., maybe go down to TJ or something next time.”

“Cool, I’d like that, Dad. But I’d better run. Thanks for telling me the truth.”

“You’re welcome, Kev. Hey, you’ve got the comm unit, right?”

“Yeah, right here.”

“Let me know what you’re doing later on, so I can keep track of you somewhat. The con com seems pretty relaxed for you older kids.”

“’kay, Dad. See ya!”

“Whew,” Ralph sighed out loud, wiping his brow dramatically. His heart still raced with the emotion and tension of a conversation that he was pleased ended on a happy note.

Kevin left minutes before Bill arrived.

“Did you see Kevin on you way here, Bill?”

“Yeah, at the end of the hall, how come?”

“Did he say anything?”

“Smiled at me, said ‘Hey, Bill’ and kept going, why?”

Ralph sighed with relief, closing his eyes.

“What’s up?”

Ralph looked at Bill and bluntly said, “I told him. About you and me.”

“Holy shit, are you serious?”

“Not the details, of course. I told him you and I have been intimate, physically and more. Didn’t expand on the ‘more’ of course.”

“What’d he say?”

“He thanked me for confirming something he’d wondered about for months any way. He was surprised it was just something recent, although I didn’t tell him as recent as here at the con.”

“He thought you and I were already…?”

“Apparently.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. I always thought I was good at reading that kid.”

“He’s a bright boy.”

“Sure is.”

Ralph and Bill stood there, looking at one another, not speaking.

“So.”

“So.”

“What’d you have in mind, any way? What was at the dealers room?”

“Wait’ll you see,” Maxwell replied, reaching into his bag of goodies.