Project Hero

by Briar Prescott

“I mean, I guess I could run behind you if that’s what you need.” “Cool. Thanks. Could you also emulate an angry carnivore, like a tiger or a bear or a T-Rex? It helps if I feel like my life is in danger.” “Man, I’ve gotta go practice my roaring,” he says, and to his cred...

“I work as a coach at hockey camp. The kids have practice, not me. I mean, I skate a little, but it’s mostly just yelling at them to tell them what they’re doing wrong.” I stop and Law bumps into me. He’s big and warm and standing so close to him feels good. Too good. I step away. “Is that why I’m here? You want to practice your yelling on me? I’ll probably give you lots of reasons to get frustrated, just a fair warning.” “I’ll use all my best curse words,” he assures me with a twinkle in his eyes. “Lead the way,” I tell Law with a resigned sigh, and not a minute later, I find myself face to face with a row of treadmills. “Ah,” I say, doing my best to emulate the dude from History Channel. “Ancient torture devices. In the Middle Ages people who were accused of being witches were made to run on those archaic machines until they collapsed of exhaustion and admitted that they were, in fact, in cahoots with the devil and were practicing witchcraft.”

No way will I be able to shake hands with a very naked Law—who by the way, doesn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that he has no clothes on—without giving him a hint of how his nakedness is affecting me. Because yes, I’m sporting a major boner.

Law tells me that under no circumstance am I allowed to shave your head.”

I almost feel like a canvas, and that’s fine with me. I need an artist to paint a nice picture on me, because all evidence points to the fact that, if left to my own devices, the result will look like a preschooler’s finger-painting.

“How do you not have a single suit?” she asks as she picks up a green dress shirt. “And the only dress shirt you have looks like a Granny Smith apple vomited it out.”

I learnt Andy’s lecture by heart and delivered it, but that didn’t stop the barrage of questions. And dear mother of dragons did they have questions.

I don’t know what to call this feeling inside me, but I guess cherished is the word that comes closest. It feels too big for our friendship. Logically, I know that, but the feeling remains.

You’re a good person, Andy Carter, and as far as I’m concerned, that makes you a hero in my book.”

I kind of miss Law. No. Definitely not miss. That would be ridiculous. I just wish he was here. It’s not like I’m pining for him. But Law and I have a lot of fun, and with him here, I wouldn’t feel so out of place. Right. That’s the version I’m sticking to.

Andy is distracted. It’s been his constant state the whole week. I’ve got no clue what has occupied his mind so thoroughly that, for our last three gym sessions, he hasn’t bitched and moaned at all. He just runs like a robot, brow furrowed, like he’s trying to simultaneously cure cancer, stop world hunger, and eliminate all forms of violence from planet Earth.

Andy isn’t really the type to contemplate silently. He thinks out loud. He comments. He jokes. I don’t think he even realizes how much he speaks and how funny his self-deprecating humor is.

Andy mutters something as he gets out of the car. “Pardon?” “I’m praying to the patron saint of hikers to make my inevitable death as painless as possible,” he says as he bends down to lace his boot, giving me a magnificent view of his ass. It takes a certain kind of talent to look hot in hiking gear, but Andy definitely pulls it off.

“You’re heavy,” I say. I’d love to stay just like this, me on my back and him on top of me, but I really think we should talk before I start rubbing my cock against him. I mean, it’s basic courtesy.

“Should we get moving?” I ask just as Law blurts out, “You want to have sex with me?” Okay. Clearly we’re going to talk about it. “Any chance we can pretend I didn’t say anything?” I try to take the coward’s way out. “Umm, that would be a no.” “Awesome,” I mutter.

“What…” Law opens and closes his mouth. “How…” He shakes his head, but to his credit, he keeps going. “Why would you… just… what?” he finally asks. “You’re gonna have to elaborate on that,” I say. “What was I thinking? What did I mean by it? What is sex?” He just gapes at me in reply. “Come on, Law, help me out here.”

“Okay,” he says. “I’ve got to say, I was certain I’d gotten the hang of how your mind works, but clearly that’s not the case. So, any hints about what put that idea into that fascinating brain of yours?”

Law’s lips are super soft. He licks over my lower lip, prompting me to open, so I do. Of course I do, and then our tongues tangle and lick and caress each other, and it’s hot and awesome and just the best feeling ever. What the hell? Why has kissing never felt like this before? Is it just me? Does Law feel it too? I have so many questions, but nothing in this world will make me disentangle myself from Law, especially for something as ordinary as speaking.

Law looks down, and for a moment, I swear there’s a look of disappointment on his face, but I dismiss the thought. I must have imagined it. Besides, what’s he got to be disappointed about here? It’s not like Law’s harboring his own secret crush on me. That’s an idea so ridiculous that the fact that Donald Duck wears a towel around his waist when in everyday life he doesn’t wear any pants seems sane and logical compared to what I just came up with.

He’s right. It’s better we remain friends. Not to mention the fact that I’m not even in the market for a boyfriend, so this whole thought sequence is pointless. The thing is, I want Andy. Have for a while now. There’s something about him that pulls me in and refuses to let go, so the offer to have some no-strings sex is extremely hard to resist. Especially because I’m not so sure I should.

“Believe me, I’m familiar with the theoretical part. In fact, I watched a documentary just the other day.” He thinks about it for a moment. “Or should porn be considered a mockumentary?” he asks with a thoughtful frown. I slam my hands into my pockets to try and conceal my very obvious erection because the thought of Andy watching porn is a mental image that makes me want to forget everything, and just attack Andy right here and now. Fuck the tourists, they can walk around us. Or stand and watch. I don’t give a shit.

Here’s a man who knows what he wants and is going for it. It reminds me of the way I pursue my own goals. There’s an almost cunning look in his eyes, and it’s really hot. I have no idea what’s wrong with me that I think that, but God help me, I do. He’s playing me like a world-class violinist does a Stradivarius, and I don’t mind one bit.

I made that pros and cons list you wanted. I grin despite myself as the messages start pouring in. Sex counts as exercise (5 calories per minute. We could do it instead of the gym sessions if you’re worried having sex with me will be hard to fit into your schedule) Sex improves sleep (you could be asleep right now if you’d taken me up on my offer before) Sex boosts your immune system (you’ll thank me when you won’t have to skip games because of a common cold) Sex lowers heart attack risk (I mean, you’re young, but being proactive about your health is never a bad thing) I can’t help but laugh at the list.

What about the cons? The reply is quick and swift. Sex relieves stress. Let’s do it, and you won’t have to worry about the cons anymore. You’re like a dog with a bone, I type back. Is your subconscious taking over, letting us know you want to bone me? I’m all for it, just saying. I laugh out loud, because how can I not? The last dregs of resistance are disappearing, dismantled by Andy with his cheeky humor and quick wit. All those reasons I’ve been resisting him seem less important than they did earlier. They’re replaced by a burst of can-do attitude. We can have sex and remain friends. I can keep myself from developing feelings for Andy. This won’t end up being a total disaster.

Kissing should definitely be Law’s major. And minor. And his future career. He should just walk around and kiss all day long because he’s that good. But not other people. Just me.

“What just happened?” he asks. “What?” I repeat, even though what I mean is, Let’s turn off the lights and do it in the dark.

“I got self-conscious.” He looks at me like he truly doesn’t understand what might have possessed me to feel that way. I wave my hand toward his upper body. “You’re very hot.” “And?” He cocks his head to the side, still confused but looking a bit more amused. “I’ve got a Snickers body,” I say. “Not in the sense that I look like a Snickers bar. Just that I eat too many Snickers and it shows.”

He lifts his head and smiles at me. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I swear. It’s just… Snickers body. You should have your own podcast or something. I’d listen to every episode. I swear.” “I’ll call it The Dad Bod Pod with Andy. Don’t forget to click subscribe.” I roll my eyes.

Do not come, Andy, I lecture myself. I forbid you. This is your Super Bowl. Or whatever the hell the sex equivalent of the Super Bowl is. Do not blow it.

I howl. There’s literally no other word for the sound that comes out of my mouth. Law chuckles against the sensitive flesh, making goosebumps rise all over my skin. He then proceeds to take the crown of my dick into his mouth and suck on it. I dig my nails into the mattress and force myself not to thrust so far into his mouth that I sink down his throat. It takes inhuman willpower, something I never thought I had, to keep my thrusts shallow. I mean, I don’t want to choke the guy. Seems a bit rude when he’s giving me so much pleasure.

It’s over embarrassingly quickly. Law’s hand moves up and down once, twice. He lifts his head and looks me deep in the eyes while he presses his thumb to the slit and rubs at it, before sliding his palm down again, and that’s all it takes for me to go off like a Fourth of July fireworks display. Ropes of cum shoot from my dick. The orgasm is like an explosion. There’s no easing into it. It’s just suddenly there, and it leaves me shaken and wrung out, panting on Law’s bed like I’ve just ran a marathon. Even my ears are ringing, so there might very well have been a real explosion, and I just didn’t notice in my blissed-out state.

“We might have to retest the hypothesis.” I sound like I’ve been drugged, and I can feel the dopey smile on my face. “What was the hypothesis again?” He turns to his side and throws his arm over my chest and presses his face into my neck. Law Anderson likes to cuddle. Who would have thought? “Sex with Lawrence Anderson is good,” I say. He smiles against my neck. “Just good?” “Fantastic,” I amend. “That’s right,” he says with a rumbly, happy voice and falls asleep almost immediately.

“Where’s the fire?” he asks, blinking rapidly to get rid of the haze of sleep. It takes him a couple of moments to figure out the shrieking is coming from my alarm clock. He stares at the thing with utter confusion for another moment before he flings himself back on the bed. “Drown it. Throw it out of the window. I don’t care what happens to it, just for the love of God, destroy that satanic noise maker,” he mumbles as he presses the pillow over his ears.

“Why does your alarm clock make such ungodly sounds? I mean, mine isn’t like an angel choir either, but at least it doesn’t make all the babies’ ears bleed in fifty-mile radius,” Andy mumbles.

Andy points to the table with the spatula. “Sit. Let me take care of you.” I blink, suddenly overcome with emotion because I don’t think anybody has ever said something like that to me.

I clear my throat, determined to tell Andy that it’s been nice, but I have to go to the gym now. Before I can do that, he turns toward me and kisses me. Every rational thought flees my head like it’s being chased out by a wildfire. What’s left is only raging desire and a need so deep that I can hardly take it. I’ve never felt this attracted to a guy before. There’s something about Andy that just does it for me, and I’m beginning to think I might not be as well equipped to handle this situation as I thought I would be.

“Andy,” I repeat. It’s a warning and praise in one because his name seems to be the only thing in my mind. Andy looks nervous for a second, but then the same determination that was there at the beginning takes over once again. He doesn’t pull off. He sucks harder, and I let go. I throw my head back and my spine arches as I come into his mouth. My dick spurts so much cum that some of it runs down from the corner of Andy’s mouth. It’s the hottest thing I’ve seen in my life.

We’re taking things slow at Law’s insistence. I guess he doesn’t want there to be any regrets, which is probably smart. If it was up to me, we’d probably already have gone the whole way, but Law has a different approach. We’re learning each other’s bodies and preferences slowly, in the most enjoyable way imaginable, and I’m not complaining one bit.

“Well, we’ve safely arrived at the restaurant, so I’d say we’re on the traditional route so far.” “Ha. Very funny. I meant, what’s next? Should I just… say something sexy? How do these things usually go?” Law chuckles softly and looks me in the eye. The low lighting of the restaurant makes his emerald eyes dark and intense. “Just relax, Andy. You’re supposed to have fun on a date, not hyperventilate and worry.” “Really?” I say drily. “Because in my, admittedly, limited experience, dating is supposed to make you sweat like a pig and babble nervously until the guy you’re with suddenly gets a phone call informing him that his best friend has been in a helicopter accident and needs him to be there right that second to whisper faintly where a hidden treasure has been buried before he dies.”

Law already knows what I’m like, so there’s no need to put on a show. Maybe that’s why this date is going so well? I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. Sure, I’m dressed better than usual, and my hair is not as wild, but that’s all just packaging. It takes me a second to put my finger on it, but then it dawns on me—with Law, I don’t feel like I’m the sidekick. He doesn’t make me feel like I’m a hero either, but the thing is, with Law, I don’t really care about being a hero at all. With Law, I’m just me. Just Andy. And with Law, it’s enough.

“Please,” I say not sure what I’m asking of him, but as always, Law understands what I need as he slowly draws out, making every one of my nerve endings sing. It’s too much. It’s not enough. I never want this to stop.

“Andy, you have nothing to worry about. You never did. Asola… he’ll be lucky to have somebody like you in his life because… you’re perfect. You’ve always been perfect.” Butterflies. My stomach is full of them. They’re like battering rams, slamming into the walls of my belly and chest.

“Besides, I’m used to spending the holiday away from family,” Law continues, unaware of my inner turmoil. “It’s not a big deal. I’m not sitting at home and moping. I usually go out and it’ll distract me just fine.” My throat goes dry. What the hell does he mean by go out and it’ll distract me just fine? Does that mean he’s finding a hook-up? Because it sounds like he’s planning to find a hook-up. An uncomfortable feeling settles in my stomach like a weight that is dragging me down. I’m not jealous. Not at all. Law doesn’t owe me anything, and he can go and have sex with whoever he wants to, whenever he wants to. I have no problem with that. Absolutely none.

Right...

“You have to come,” I say resolutely. “I’m not ready to talk to Falcon yet, so if you think that’s something that should keep you away, you’re wrong. Besides, we’ve been spending so much time together lately that you can’t just cut me off like that. I might go into withdrawal. And don’t even get me started on the fact that we’re not even halfway done with my sex lessons.” Law stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Sex lessons,” he repeats flatly. “Hey, you’re the one that committed yourself to teaching me the intricacies of sex, buddy, so you can’t just quit halfway through. I mean, I didn’t wait for the results of the physics test, and then go all, Ah, well, they passed. I’m off to the beach.”

Karma will probably come and bite me in the ass, but while I’m still breathing, Law is not staying in town to have lots of sex with festive party-goers. I’m sorry, he’s just not. “And that means you can’t either. You’re stuck with me ’til the bitter end.” Law stares at me for a moment, but then he shakes his head and smiles. “I guess I need to pack a bag, then.”

“I resent that,” Andy’s dad says. “I’m honest to a fault, except for a tiny white lie here and there.” He snaps his fingers. “Like when we told you they didn’t sell replacement batteries for that god-awful keyboard you loved so much.” The man looks at me and speaks from the corner of his mouth. “God love him, but Andy has no musical gifts.” “The TV only works when it rains,” Jane says. “Swallowing your gum makes your poop bounce out of the toilet.”

“The security cameras are actually Santa cams, and he’s always watching,” Mark adds to the growing pile of lies. He smirks as he catches my eye. “Andy believed that one ’til he was nine.” “Eating green beans will make your muscles grow.” Andy’s mom keeps listing, ticking stuff off on her fingers. “Somebody broke into our house, but they only took the… what was that DVD again?” “Finding Nemo,” Andy’s mom supplies. “Enough!” Andy cries. “Can we just once pretend that we’re a normal family? Just for this one weekend?”

“Sure honey. We can definitely give it our best shot,” they say in unison.

“So that’s why you were so excited to have us all home. You missed the free labor.” Jane laughs. “That’s it. I endured thirty-six hours of increasingly painful contractions with you just so I would have somebody who’d peel the potatoes. You’ve cracked my evil masterplan. And here I thought Mrs. Patterson was crazy when she tried to tell me that you’re a genius in the seventh grade. It obviously took me some time to catch on, but now I can really see it.”

It feels like my heart is jumping into my throat as the thought registers and settles. Falling for Andy. Is that what I’ve been doing? I want to say no. I want to laugh at the ridiculousness of the thought, but then images jump into my head. Andy gesticulating wildly as he talks about the probability of the existence of dark energy. Andy trying to debate with himself about who should receive the Nobel Prize this year. Andy completing a 5K run without stopping once and the dorky victory dance that followed the achievement. Andy yelling at the TV when he happened to come upon a game of Jeopardy that had questions about National Marine Sanctuaries.